Recycling Lorry Empties Contents Due to Battery Fire

A truck carrying recyclable materials was forced to unload its contents onto a road subsequent to a fire initiated by batteries. According to Dorset Council, used batteries ignited upon being compacted within the waste collection vehicle while it was operating in the vicinity of Bridport, Dorset. The operator observed smoke emanating from the vehicle and proceeded to discharge its load onto the thoroughfare. Firefighters subsequently extinguished the blaze. The council reported that no individuals sustained injuries and the collection vehicle remained undamaged. Via a Facebook post, Dorset Council Waste Services issued a warning regarding the potential for batteries to ignite when compressed within a recycling vehicle. The post advised residents to deposit batteries in a transparent plastic bag positioned on top of their recycling bin, instead of placing them inside the bin itself. It further noted that fires originating within lorries are readily propagated by combustible recyclable materials such as cardboard and paper. In November 2023, a fire attributed to batteries resulted in damages exceeding £20,000 at a recycling facility located in Reading. In September, West Berkshire Council introduced a kerbside battery recycling program, aiming to mitigate the occurrence of comparable fires.