Battery fires spark warning after truck blazes in Tweed

THREE garbage truck fires in six weeks have prompted Tweed Shire Council to issue a warning over the dangers of disposing of batteries in household bins.

The incidents, involving SOLO-operated waste trucks, forced drivers to dump burning “hot loads” on local streets to prevent more serious fires.

The council said the blazes are likely caused by batteries being crushed inside garbage trucks, with rechargeable and embedded batteries now found in many everyday devices.

The Australian Council of Recycling estimates between 10,000 and 12,000 battery-related fires occur each year across Australia’s waste and recycling systems.

Rod Dawson, unit coordinator for resource recovery at Tweed Shire Council, urged residents to think before throwing out items containing batteries.

“If you hate the thought of all of your recycling going to waste, or a load of rubbish being dumped on the side of your road and cleaned up, do not throw out anything electronic that may contain a battery,” Mr Dawson said.

Tweed Shire Council has urged residents to keep batteries out of household bins after a series of garbage truck fires across the region. Photo: SUPPLIED

“It’s not only wasteful, messy and expensive, but it puts our drivers in danger of smoke inhalation, burns or injury if the fire spreads inside the vehicle. If we lose the truck or the driver, we lose the ability to provide the service.”

When fires start in a garbage truck’s hopper, drivers are trained to discharge the load, as continuing to drive can intensify the flames. Fire crews then extinguish the blaze and clean-up teams remove the debris.

Batteries, especially lithium-ion and rechargeable types, contain reactive materials that can ignite when crushed or damaged. Even a single battery inside a discarded vape, power tool, or toy can trigger a fire under pressure.

The council is urging residents to treat batteries as hazardous waste and to dispose of them safely at drop-off points, including Tweed Council offices and the Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority has launched a pilot program allowing community recycling centres to accept embedded battery products, including vapes, with the nearest drop-off sites in Ballina, Kyogle and Lismore.

“The disposal of batteries might seem complex but it’s worth spending time getting it right, or there can be major consequences,” Mr Dawson said.