Cardiff Council has issued an urgent reminder to residents after a second refuse vehicle caught fire in just two weeks, with lithium batteries believed to be the cause.
The latest incident saw one of the council’s refuse vehicles catch fire while out on collection. The fire was quickly brought under control by the fire service, limiting damage to the vehicle.
Following an investigation, the council found batteries and gas canisters within the waste load, with bike batteries believed to have caused the blaze.
The council says the incident highlights the serious dangers of placing batteries, gas canisters, vapes and other hazardous items in household waste bins, where they can become damaged or crushed during the collection process and ignite.
Cardiff Council said the latest fire should serve as an important reminder that these items should never be disposed of in general household waste.
The authority warned that incorrect disposal puts refuse crews, residents and members of the public at risk, as well as increasing the likelihood of costly vehicle damage and disruption to waste collections.
Residents are instead being urged to use the appropriate recycling and disposal facilities for batteries, gas canisters, vapes and other hazardous waste.
More information about recycling and waste disposal in Cardiff, including the council’s A to Z recycling guide, is available on Cardiff Council’s recycling webpages.
