Prepared by Power Waste Management
The waste and recycling industry is witnessing an increase in battery-related fires and Power Waste Management is NO exception. More needs to be done to safely dispose of and manage batteries in order to keep our people, communities and the environment safe.
In March, one of our trucks caught fire in our yard after our daily collection, luckily our neighbour saw it happening and one of our drivers was close by so we were able to save the truck from a complete loss. It was determined by the fire brigades that attended that a customer has incorrectly disposed of a lithium battery in their waste, this is what caused the fire.
Batteries DO NOT belong in general waste bins. Despite asking our customers not to dump hazardous materials like batteries and/or thinners, paints etc… in our bins, we are seeing within the industry an increase of truck fires caused by these items. Please dispose of batteries from power tools, scooters vapes and others items safely. Visit your local council website for more information or search a facility near you that accepts batteries. You can also visit Planet Ark or The Environment Protection Agency for more information on how to dispose of these hazardous items.
Waste is compacted inside our trucks. If batteries, electronics or paints/thinners are present, the compaction can cause a spark and cause the entire load to burst into flames without warning. This can lead to property damage and potential injury to our drivers. When trucks carrying waste catch fire, they are often on busy roads within our community. This poses a severe risk not only to our drivers but to other motorists and pedestrians. The fire brigade often instructs the driver to dump the rubbish on the side of the road in a safe place so they can extinguish the fire with easier access. If the rubbish is not able to be dumped it could potentially cause the truck to explode, leading to a potentially devastating safety and environmental consequence.
YOU CAN HAVE THE POWER, TODAY!
P: 02 9540 3777
E: accounts@powerwastemanagement.com.au
W: www.powerwastemamagement.com.au
Address: 3/262a Captain Cook Drive, Kurnell, 2231
Postal Address: PO BOX 4735, Sylvania Waters 2224
