Fire in Cornwall bin lorry sparks warning
The Council's asking us to dispose of batteries correctly
A Cornwall Council bin lorry has caught fire - after a battery was disposed of incorrectly.
The quick-thinking crew on the truck spotted the smoke and dumped the rubbish out at the nearest waste transfer station.
Firefighters, escorting the lorry, then put out the blaze.
An old mobile phone and a power tool battery were found among the rubbish and had caused the fire.
We're being reminded the batteries can ignite when put into our general waste and then crushed within the vehicles and processing sites.
Nick Seviour, Senior Business Manager at Biffa, which Cornwall Council commissions to collect Cornwall’s rubbish and recycling, said: “The crew stayed calm and acted quickly to prevent this incident from escalating. Thanks to their actions, the fire was contained and fortunately no one was hurt.
“We often see batteries in rubbish. I hope this acts a reminder to people to check what they’re putting in the bin and do their bit to keep the crews safe.”
Esther O’Bearagh, Waste and Recycling Community Engagement Team Leader at Cornwall Council: “The message is simple – never bin your batteries. We don’t want anyone to get hurt.
“Remember anything with lights or sound, even small items such as keyrings, musical cards and toys, will contain a battery of some kind.
“If you can’t remove the battery from an item, please take it to your local Household Waste and Recycling Centre so the parts can be recycled safely.”
Batteries can be recycled at Cornwall supermarkets and at local Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs).