Newcastle garbage truck fire highlights battery bin danger
A garbage truck caught fire at Wallsend, and firefighters warned Australians about battery risks in household waste.
A garbage truck caught fire at Wallsend, Newcastle, on Thursday morning. The driver detected flames in the waste and safely dumped the burning load onto Alexander Street, preventing fire from spreading to the vehicle.
Firefighters arrived and put out the blaze. Lithium-ion batteries and other rechargeable batteries can ignite when crushed or damaged inside garbage trucks and waste equipment.
Batteries from phones, laptops, power tools, e-bikes and e-scooters should never go in household bins or recycling. Instead, take them to a battery recycling centre or household problem-waste facility.
The exact cause of the fire was not yet confirmed, but firefighters said the incident is a reminder that what people bin matters.
- Wallsend, Newcastle
- Location
- Thursday, September 17, about 8am
- Date and time
- Alexander Street
- Closure location
Why it mattersBatteries can cause truck fires and endanger workers and the public. Knowing where to take them safely protects your community.
AustraliaAustralian households need to stop putting rechargeable batteries in bins to prevent fires in garbage trucks and waste facilities across the country.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 7 d ago
