A fire in a bin lorry in Bath is being blamed on a battery that had been thrown away in somebody’s rubbish.
The fire in the bin lorry | Photo © B&NES Council
Bath & North East Somerset Council said the collection truck caught fire last Friday, 26th January, while emptying bins from homes in the city and the fire service suspected the cause was a discarded battery.
The council asks residents to put batteries in a clear bag in their green box with their weekly recycling: “Help us keep our crews safe and protect the local environment.”
In June 2022, a large fire at South Gloucestershire Council’s recycling centre in Mangotsfield was caused by a battery or electrical item in the non-recyclable waste area.
Lithium-ion batteries or li-ion batteries are lightweight, rechargeable batteries found in many electrical devices, from mobility scooters to e-cigarettes and are used safely by millions of people every day.
However, they can present a risk when over-charged, short-circuited, submerged in water, or damaged.
There is more safety advice on Avon Fire & Rescue Service’s website here.
