EMBEDDED BATTERY DEVICE CAUSES GARBAGE TRUCK FIRE
Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) is urging residents not to dispose of batteries and embedded battery devices in the red-lid bin after waste in a garbage truck caught on fire on Friday 8 August.
The garbage truck was undertaking the domestic kerbside collection run, when a driver noticed smoke and flames coming from the garbage truck’s load. The driver promptly moved the vehicle to a safe location and emptied the load.
Emergency services were called, and NSW Fire and Rescue attended the scene and extinguished the fire. NSW Police also attended for traffic management purposes.
The load of garbage that was emptied onto the road had to be cleared away once extinguished using a bobcat and skip bins.
Manager Resource Recovery and Efficiency Jamie Lobb said an embedded battery device was identified to be the cause of the fire. Items with embedded batteries must not be placed into the red-lid bin as they can cause a fire which is evident in this case.
“Garbage trucks are critical aspects of Council’s fleet. They are high-valued assets not just in the cost to replace them but the service they provide to our community.”
“The quick action of the driver has ensured the garbage truck was not damaged however an extensive clean-up had to be undertaken,” Mr Lobb said.
Hazardous and prohibited items that cannot be placed in the red-lid bin include lithium-ion batteries, rechargeable batteries, embedded battery devices, flammable liquids such as petrol, paint thinners and gas cylinders that are either full or empty.
“Council has a free recycling program for embedded battery devices and household batteries at Whylandra Waste and Recycling Facility or the Wellington Transfer Station. Household batteries can also be dropped off at the Customer Experience Centres at Dubbo and Wellington and the Dubbo Library in the designated stations so that outcomes like this can be avoided,” Mr Lobb said.
For more information about the Community Recycling Centre visit www.dubbo.nsw.gov.au.
Last Edited: 12 Aug 2025