A waste collection lorry caught fire in Cobham, Surrey, after batteries placed in a household rubbish bin ignited inside the vehicle, Elmbridge Borough Council has confirmed.
The council said the battery casings were crushed when the bin’s contents were tipped into the truck, causing the batteries to ignite and burn rapidly through the waste. No injuries were reported and the fire was successfully extinguished.
Elmbridge BC has used the incident to remind residents that batteries must never be placed in household or communal bins and should instead be disposed of via the council’s separate weekly battery recycling collections.
The council warned that incorrectly disposed batteries can also cause fires at waste depots and recycling facilities, putting staff at risk.
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