Published on: Thursday, April 30, 2026
Image: Batteries being disposed in a disposal bin
It might seem harmless to toss a dead battery in your bin, but it is one of the most dangerous things you can throw away.
In the last seven years, the City of Swan has had 20 truck fires, with six of those in the past six months, including three separate fires in the same truck.
Batteries are a leading cause of fires in waste trucks and processing facilities, and the impact goes far beyond the bin.
When a truck catches fire, it is taken off the road for an average of three months, depending on the severity of the damage. This places additional pressure on the rest of the waste fleet and can delay or restrict services across all operations, including side loaders, bulk waste, litter bin collection and recycling centre vehicles.
The current cost to replace a truck is around $575,000, and it can take about 40 weeks to receive a new one once ordered. On top of this, insurance premiums increase following each claim, adding further long-term costs. Lithium-ion batteries are the main culprit. These are found in everyday household items like phones, laptops, e-cigarettes, power tools, toys and other small electronics. If it has a battery, it does not belong in your bin.
When waste is collected, it is compacted inside the truck. This pressure can crush or damage batteries. Once damaged, batteries can overheat and ignite, leading to fires that spread quickly and are very difficult to put out.
A fire inside a truck is serious and unpredictable. It can start while the truck is driving through the community, forcing crews to stop and tip the load onto the road to prevent the fire spreading. This can create hazards for nearby residents and traffic, along with toxic smoke and the risk of explosions, as well as the risk of the fire spreading further. Fires can also cause environmental damage and take trucks out of service while repairs or replacements are arranged.
These incidents put drivers and waste operators at real risk, and they disrupt essential services. As more battery-powered items are used every day, truck fires are becoming more common.
The good news is, this is easy to prevent. Never put batteries in any bin.
Take loose batteries to a battery drop-off point and recycle items with built-in batteries through approved e-waste programs. Store batteries safely at home until you can dispose of them properly.
Keeping batteries out of your bin is a simple action that protects people, the environment and your community.
To find out where to safely dispose of batteries and electronic waste, visit the electronic waste section on the City’s website.
In the last seven years, the City of Swan has had 20 truck fires, with six of those in the past six months, including three separate fires in the same truck.
Batteries are a leading cause of fires in waste trucks and processing facilities, and the impact goes far beyond the bin.
When a truck catches fire, it is taken off the road for an average of three months, depending on the severity of the damage. This places additional pressure on the rest of the waste fleet and can delay or restrict services across all operations, including side loaders, bulk waste, litter bin collection and recycling centre vehicles.
The current cost to replace a truck is around $575,000, and it can take about 40 weeks to receive a new one once ordered. On top of this, insurance premiums increase following each claim, adding further long-term costs. Lithium-ion batteries are the main culprit. These are found in everyday household items like phones, laptops, e-cigarettes, power tools, toys and other small electronics. If it has a battery, it does not belong in your bin.
When waste is collected, it is compacted inside the truck. This pressure can crush or damage batteries. Once damaged, batteries can overheat and ignite, leading to fires that spread quickly and are very difficult to put out.
A fire inside a truck is serious and unpredictable. It can start while the truck is driving through the community, forcing crews to stop and tip the load onto the road to prevent the fire spreading. This can create hazards for nearby residents and traffic, along with toxic smoke and the risk of explosions, as well as the risk of the fire spreading further. Fires can also cause environmental damage and take trucks out of service while repairs or replacements are arranged.
These incidents put drivers and waste operators at real risk, and they disrupt essential services. As more battery-powered items are used every day, truck fires are becoming more common.
The good news is, this is easy to prevent. Never put batteries in any bin.
Take loose batteries to a battery drop-off point and recycle items with built-in batteries through approved e-waste programs. Store batteries safely at home until you can dispose of them properly.
Keeping batteries out of your bin is a simple action that protects people, the environment and your community.
To find out where to safely dispose of batteries and electronic waste, visit the electronic waste section on the City’s website.