A series of fires this winter has highlighted the dangers hazardous items pose to our waste truck drivers and communities.
Last week, a driver on a collection round in Rosebud noticed smoke coming from the truck's hopper on Ninth Avenue. The driver was able to drive the truck down to the foreshore where firefighters met him in the Village Green carpark and extinguished the emerging fire.
In July, a recycling bin on Spindrift Avenue in Flinders caught fire in the early hours of the morning while residents slept. The bin was already engulfed in flames when our driver entered the street. He promptly alerted firefighters who arrived at the scene shortly afterwards.
In June, a driver noticed smoke coming from the truck at Campbell Court in Balnarring. The driver rushed to Balnarring Recreation Reserve where he unloaded the contents of the truck on the ground, totalling 378 bins' worth of recycling, to enable CFA to extinguish the fire.
What do these incidents have in common?
Most fires in waste trucks are caused by items incorrectly placed in kerbside bins. Batteries (including embedded lithium batteries) vapes, gas bottles, and other hazardous materials must never be placed in household bins.
Keep our truck drivers and residents safe
Our drivers should never have to go to work wondering whether they will face a life-threatening situation. They deserve a safe workplace - just like everyone else. These incidents put real people, properties and neighbourhoods at risk.
Mayor Stephen Batty is calling on all residents to dispose of hazardous waste correctly. "Hazardous items can be disposed of safely and free of charge at our resource recovery centres (tips). Batteries can be disposed of at most major supermarkets and hardware stores. It is a simple action that keeps our residents and drivers safe," Cr Batty said.
