A Victorian recycling truck was last week forced to make an emergency stop after the load it was carrying caught fire.
The quick actions of the driver and the Benalla Fire Brigade ensured no one was injured, and no property was damaged.
The cause of the fire is believed to be from the incorrect disposal of a vaping device containing a commonly used lithium battery.
Lithium batteries are found within e-waste components such as e-cigarettes, phone, laptops, electric toothbrushes, children’s toys, solar powered devices, and hand tools. The incorrect disposal of these devices in general kerbside waste can spark fires in trucks, putting drivers and the public at risk.
Cr Bernie Hearn, Benalla Rural City Mayor, said the recycling truck fire was a reminder of the dangers of disposing batteries in waste and recycling bins.
From 1 July 2019, The Victorian Government banned e-waste from all Victorian landfills and has changed the regulations on how e-waste is managed.
For more information, visit: www.benalla.vic.gov.au
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