The quick-thinking crew used fire extinguishers to contain the fire
Cornwall residents are being urged to help protect rubbish collection crews by making sure batteries don’t end up in the bin.
The warning comes following a battery fire on a rubbish collection lorry. Fortunately, the quick-thinking crew spotted smoke and used fire extinguishers to prevent it from spreading.
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service attended and escorted the lorry to the waste transfer station where the load was tipped, and firefighters used jets to make sure the fire was out completely.
Firefighters made sure the fire was out completely
Batteries, even small button batteries and ‘dead’ batteries, can ignite when crushed in rubbish collection vehicles and at sites where waste is processed. An old mobile phone and a power tool battery were found among the rubbish which had caught alight in the lorry and were determined to be the cause of this fire.
Nick Seviour, Senior Business Manager at Biffa, which Cornwall Council commissions to collect Cornwall’s rubbish and recycling, said: “The crew stayed calm and acted quickly to prevent this incident from escalating. Thanks to their actions, the fire was contained and fortunately no one was hurt.
“We often see batteries in rubbish and I hope this acts a reminder to people to check what they’re putting in the bin and do their bit to keep the crews safe.”
Esther O’Bearagh, Waste and Recycling Community Engagement Team Leader at Cornwall Council: “The message is simple – never bin your batteries. We don’t want anyone to get hurt.
“Remember anything with lights or sound, even small items such as keyrings, musical cards and toys, will contain a battery of some kind.
“If you can’t remove the battery from an item, please take it to your local Household Waste and Recycling Centre so the parts can be recycled safely.”
Batteries can be recycled at supermarkets and Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs).
Press release issued on May 19, 2025