A BATTERY fire has sparked a warning from Stratford District Council (SDC).
District residents are being reminded to dispose of batteries properly after a fire broke out in a recycling lorry.
The crew was carrying out its rounds in Wilmcote when the vehicle caught fire on Tuesday (January 11).
The incident has given rise to concerns around batteries being thrown into household rubbish and recycling bins.
Fortunately, the crew was unhurt and the vehicle undamaged. Although the definite cause is not known, it is believed the batteries were put in an Ariel Capsule tub.
Used batteries mixed with general waste, paper, cardboard or plastic can pose a risk. They are likely to be compacted or punctured during transportation or during handling. And when batteries are damaged they can become hot and ignite, potentially resulting in fire.
The council does provide a separate kerbside collection service for household batteries – they can be placed next to or on top of any bin on collection days in a standard sized carrier bag for collection and recycling.
There is a large network of free-to-use collection points in supermarkets, at recycling centres, and many other shops, so there is no need for old batteries to find their way into household rubbish and recycling.
SDC Climate change Coun Ian Shenton said: “I would like to take this opportunity to remind district residents of the importance of disposing of waste properly.
“It is important to remember that batteries and small electrical or battery-operated appliances must not be put into any of the household wheelie bins.
“In addition to fire hazards which can be caused by putting old batteries in the wrong bins, the resources and chemicals found in them such as lead, cadmium, zinc, lithium and mercury can cause harm to the environment.
“As always, we must encourage everyone to bin their rubbish right and remember don’t put batteries in your rubbish, recycling or garden waste bins.”
Visit www.stratford.gov.uk/waste-recycling/our-recycling-collection.cfm for more details on kerbside collections.
