A significant fire incident involving a recycling dustcart in Canterbury has raised concerns and prompted a stern warning from the city council regarding the disposal of batteries in household waste. The incident, which transpired on September 22, is believed to have been caused by a battery mistakenly placed in the rubbish.

According to city officials, this alarming event marks the second occurrence of its kind in just a matter of days. In the previous incident, a full car battery was recklessly discarded into waste, leading to a similar hazardous situation.

During the recent incident on Friday, firefighters were compelled to cut the roof off the dustcart to gain access to the blaze. This firefighting operation caused delays in scheduled rubbish collections, inconveniencing residents.

In light of these incidents, residents are urgently advised to refrain from disposing of batteries in their regular household waste. The council has elucidated that damaged batteries have a propensity to explode or ignite, especially when subjected to processes such as crushing, compacting, smashing, or exposure to moisture, which can occur when batteries are mixed with general rubbish or recycling.

Lithium batteries, in particular, have been identified as a significant fire risk when mishandled in waste disposal.

To address this issue responsibly, the council has suggested the following alternatives for battery disposal:

– Utilise local household waste recycling centres.

– Utilise designated drop-off points in supermarkets, electrical shops, participating libraries, and participating schools for domestic-purpose batteries.

– Take car batteries to household waste recycling centres.

These measures have been introduced to ensure the safe and appropriate disposal of batteries, mitigating potential hazards and fire risks associated with their incorrect disposal in regular waste streams.