The council said the incident illustrated how dangerous batteries in general waste can be
Aerial view of Grossmont Road in Southdene, Kirkby.(Image: Google)
‘Smouldering waste’ was dumped onto the street after a bin lorry caught fire in Kirkby yesterday (Thursday June 5).
The incident occurred when a Knowsley Council crew were out collecting residents’ general waste bins in Grossmont Road in Southdene when they spotted smoke billowing out the back of their wagon.
A statement published on Knowsley Council’s website paid tribute to its worker, stating: “They followed the training advice they’ve been given, emptying out the smouldering waste onto the road, where fire crews attended to put out the flames.
“Colleagues from the council’s Street Scene Team were then able to collect up the pile of waste from the back of the wagon, leaving the lorry crew to continue on their rounds – meaning not a single bin was missed as a result of the earlier drama.”
The local authority identified the cause of the fire as a Lithium-Ion battery, which it said must have been within one of the bins emptied at an earlier stage in the day.
The council added the incident was a ‘stark reminder’ as to why residents are asked never to dispose of batteries in their general waste, as they do pose a fire risk.
Batteries, especially rechargeable ones, are used in all kinds of products, from mobile phones and cameras to vaping devices as well as cordless appliances and equipment like vacuum cleaners and DIY tools.
They are known to contain chemicals like lead, mercury, and lithium which can be dangerous to the environment if they are not disposed of correctly.
Small electrical items, such as remotes or phones, can also contain ‘hidden batteries’ which can start fires when crushed or damaged inside bins or recycling lorries.
According to Merseyside Fire and Rescue, battery fires endanger lives and cause serious environmental and health risks. In the last year alone, there were 1200 reported battery-related fire across England.
Knowsley Council officials advised batteries should be safely disposed of at collection points which can be found in most major supermarkets, and at household waste recycling centres.
Cllr Shelley Powell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, said: “Well done to the quick thinking crew in Kirkby who spotted the signs of a fire and did exactly as they’d been trained to do.
“It must have been quite a sight for anyone looking on and wondering what was happening, but this was absolutely the right action for them to take. It allowed the fire service to deal with the fire easily and ensured that collections continued without disruption.
A big thank you to them, and to our street scene team who attended quickly to clear the waste once the fire was out.
“It does remind us very clearly of the reasons why batteries – or small electricals containing batteries, must never go in the bin. Always take them to the collection points in shops or at the household waste recycling centre, so they can be disposed of safely.”