
The bottle ignited after a household waste bin was emptied into the vehicle.
The refuse worker was taken to hospital with dizziness and hearing issues but is now recovering, Newham Council said.
Newham’s deputy mayor, Sarah Ruiz, said it was a ‘stark reminder’ of the dangers of improperly disposing of dangerous items.
She said: ‘We all need to be aware that items like vapes, electrical items, batteries, gas canisters and bottles do not belong in household waste or recycling bins.
‘These items can cause fires, explosions, serious injuries, putting both our waste management teams and the wider community at risk.’
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