Lithium battery triggers serious bin lorry fire in North Warwickshire

A lithium battery placed in a household bin caused a serious fire in a North Warwickshire bin lorry.

During an early morning collection round this month, North Warwickshire Borough Council colleagues experienced a fire caused by a lithium battery that had been disposed of in a household bin while carrying out a routine waste collection in a rural area.

Thankfully, no one was harmed, and the fire was extinguished swiftly.

As a result of this incident, the bin lorry involved has been permanently damaged and is no longer safe for use on the road. A refuse vehicle costs in the region of £250,000 to replace or if the back part of the vehicle can be repaired it will cost in the region of £125,000.

North Warwickshire Borough Council are keen to emphasise how important it is to dispose of your batteries, or products containing a lithium battery, via the correct channels. It is recommended to either save up your batteries over time, take them to your local shops or Recycling Centres, and dispose of them appropriately, or to take your small electrical items to your local household Recycling Centre for disposal. You can find guidance on how to dispose of different types of batteries here: How to dispose of batteries | Batteries | North Warwickshire Borough Council or download the Council app for advice on appropriate disposal options.

Councillor Margaret Bell, Chair of the Community & Environment Board, said:

“I am deeply concerned that this incident has occurred. The unsafe disposal of batteries presents a serious risk to our crews, our services, and the fire service. A plea to our residents - please do not put batteries or vapes in any of our bins. As a Council, we are thankful that no one was injured in this incident, and we remain committed to protecting the safety of our staff and the community.”