Horsham Rural City Council is urging residents to safely recycle batteries following a fire earlier this week during routine garbage collection in the Horsham urban area. The fire began when the truck driver noticed smoke coming from the truck and promptly moved the truck to the outskirts of town where the contents of the truck were dumped safely on the road reserve.
The Horsham CFA attended rapidly to extinguish the blaze. Thankfully, the driver was unharmed, and the truck sustained only minor cosmetic damage. It is highly likely the fire was sparked by a lithium battery incorrectly placed in general waste.
Mayor Cr Ian Ross thanked emergency services and praised the driver's quick response.
"When a fire breaks out in a garbage truck, it puts people in danger— including drivers, emergency responders and the broader community. Safe disposal of batteries is one small thing that we can all be doing to reduce the risk of these types of fires" he said.
Council promptly notified EPA and followed their clean-up directions. The extinguished waste was then safely transported to Dooen Landfill. While the truck suffered minor cosmetic damage, the driver acted decisively under pressure and is commended for her professionalism.
In the past year, Horsham residents recycled nearly 1.1 tonnes of batteries—equivalent to over 47,000 AA cells—and approximately 70 tonnes of e-waste through Council collection points.
Lithium-ion batteries are a growing fire hazard in household waste streams. Since these batteries can ignite when crushed—such as during compaction in trucks—they pose serious risks to waste management staff. These fires are difficult to extinguish, can reignite, and release toxic gases.
Council encourages community members to avoid placing any battery - AA, C, D, 9V or rechargeable lithium batteries in household garbage or recycling bins. Recycle through designated collection points:
- Horsham Transfer Station (Kenny Road, Haven)
- Civic Centre (Roberts Avenue)
- Horsham Library (McLachlan Street)
Council is soon installing new battery and e-waste stations at Kalkee Children's Hub and Horsham Aquatic Centre.
To further reduce fire risk - tape over battery terminals before recycling so contacts can't spark when coming into contact with metal.
"Recycling batteries correctly is a simple but crucial step we can all take to prevent fires and protect our community. By disposing of batteries in the right way, we safeguard not only the people handling our waste but also our environment and infrastructure. It's a shared responsibility that can make a real difference." Cr Ross said
