Bin lorry fire prompts battery warning

People are being warned not to dump batteries in their household rubbish bins after a lorry caught fire.

Workers for waste contractor Veolia spotted smoke pouring from the back of their bin lorry after collecting rubbish in Batford, Hertfordshire, on Tuesday.

The crew managed to unload the smouldering waste onto the road at Common Lane, while warning motorists and pedestrians to stay clear.

Lawrence Foley, from Veolia St Albans, said it was "a reminder of the dangers that our people face on a daily basis as a result of items like batteries being disposed of in household bins".

Hertfordshire Fire Service was called to the scene and firefighters put out the blaze.

A battery fitted in an electrical device, which had been dumped in a household waste bin, was believed to have caused the fire.

Edgar Hill, St Albans City and District Council's lead for waste and recycling, said: "This is a striking example of the serious dangers posed by discarded batteries, which can nowadays be found in all sorts of personal and household items including vapes and toys.

"Small actions like carefully separating waste can have a huge impact on our people and the essential services they deliver."

He urged people to check the council's website on how to safely get rid of items.

The council said small electrical items and batteries should be put in bags and left beside bins during weekly waste collections.

Lithium-ion batteries are a major waste disposal hazard as they can spark a fire when crushed by a bin lorry's compactor or blades, Veolia said.

Improperly discarded batteries cause a fire a day across all its operations, it also said.

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