A fire broke out in the back of a mixed recycling collection truck during a kerbside collection run today, in Waimate, highlighting the dangers of disposing of batteries incorrectly.

The St Andrews Volunteer Fire Brigade was called to extinguish the blaze after the truck’s load was discharged in a gravel yard.

The Waimate District Council said a lithium battery, mistakenly placed in kerbside recycling, was the likely cause of the fire.

“Batteries are hazardous waste and cannot be placed in any kerbside wheelie bins. They not only pose serious environmental and health risks but can also cause dangerous fires in bins, collection trucks, or even compactors,” the council said.

A spokesperson added: “We urge residents to take extra care when disposing of batteries. Use the designated battery recycling stations to help us protect the environment, ensure public safety, and prevent incidents like this from occurring again.”

Residents are advised to safely dispose of batteries by placing them in a non-flammable container, such as glass, metal, or ceramic, and dropping them off at recycling stations located at Waimate New World and the Waimate Resource Recovery Park.