Peterborough residents are being urged not to put batteries in bins – after another bin lorry fire in the city.

Crews collecting waste in Ravensthorpe had to deal with a fire in the back of the truck on Tuesday morning (July 7).

This year there have already been a number of fires in bin lorries – and in 2023 the council said that one fire meant £15,000 of repairs had to be carried out to the vehicle.

Thankfully this time the damage – and delays to the service – were kept to a minimum, and staff were able to continue on their rounds.

placeholder image — Fire crews at the scene

A spokesperson for Peterborough City Council said: “Disposing of batteries and vapes in your household waste can cause fires, as residents of Willonholt in Ravensthorpe found out on Tuesday morning when a crew from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to extinguish a fire in a refuse vehicle.

“The fire was caused by a battery that was disposed of in household waste. During our inspection, we also found a black bag, which was rejected by the crew, containing wires and cables.

“Due to the quick actions of our refuse staff, collections were able to continue as usual with only a short delay.

“Please don't put electrical items, batteries or vapes in the household waste bins. They can cause fires, health and safety issues and damage our equipment.”

A number of battery recycling points are located across the city, including at the Household Recycling Centre.

For more information on how to dispose of batteries, visit https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/bins-waste-and-recycling/reduce-reuse-recycle/how-to-recycle-and-dispose-of-electrical-items