Important reminder issued to householders in Cambridgeshire after fires break out in bin lorries

Batteries thrown in with household waste were responsible for fire breaking out in a bin lorry in Cambridge on Wednesday morning, prompting a reminder to residents.

A fire crew from the city was called at 7.13am on Wednesday (August 23) to Hauxton Road in Trumpington when the refuse from the lorry caught alight.

It had to be taken out onto the road and extinguished.

Less than an hour later, fire crews from Dogsthorpe and Stanground were called to a lorry fire in Bretton, Peterborough, which was also caused by batteries being thrown in the bin.

Householders have been reminded never to throw old batteries in their bin as when they get crushed in the bin lorry they can start fires.

In Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire, small batteries can be placed in plastic bags on top of any household bin - blue, green or black - for collection.

Recycling centres and some shops can also take batteries.

Mike Parsons, operations manager for Greater Cambridge Shared Waste, which runs the waste collection service in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire, said: “Fires in our bin lorries endanger our crews, damage expensive equipment, disrupt our waste collections and result in fire service callouts.

“We urge residents to dispose of batteries correctly. Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire households can conveniently recycle used, small batteries weekly, thanks to adjustments to bin lorries made earlier this year, which mean that small plastic bags containing used batteries can now simply be left on top of green, black or blue bins for collection by crews on their usual rounds.

“Larger batteries should be taken to household recycling centres at Milton or Thriplow. Some electrical stores offer a recycling service for bigger rechargeable batteries.”

A similar fire happened in the north of Cambridge in October.

Each year across the country more than 200 waste fires - 48 per cent of the total - are caused by lithium-ion batteries.

Station commander Gareth Boyd, community risk manager for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We have seen an increase in fires involving batteries in refuse lorries over recent months. Due to the heat generated and the crushing of the batteries during the process, the lithium in the batteries will set fire to the waste in the lorry.

“Our crews work with the refuse collectors to empty the vehicle to prevent the fire from spreading, but this involves significant disruption to the road network.

“There are many places to safely dispose of batteries. Many local shops have a battery bank and recycling centres also take them. Please do not dispose of any battery types, small or large in household waste or recycling bins. These cause unnecessary and avoidable fires and put people at risk.”