Bin lorry catches fire while out on recycling collection rounds in Peterborough
Refuse vehicle is second to catch fire within a week
A recycling collection vehicle experienced a fire during its round in Peterborough on Tuesday morning (November 10)
The incident happened while refuse workers were carrying out their duties at Dingley Court in Ravensthorpe.
Fire crews were called and dealt with the incident swiftly.
No one was injured, and the vehicle returned to service after a short delay.
An subsequent investigation has identified a discarded power pack battery, hidden inside a black bag, as the cause of the fire.
This is the second time in a week that a Peterborough City Council refuse vehicle has experienced a fire.
On Wednesday, November 4, fire crews had to attend a similar incident in the Fulbridge Road and Francis Gardens area when flames were seen in the rear of the vehicle.
Thankfully, no one was injured in that incident either although the cause of the blaze was once again attributed to a “discarded battery or vape”.
In a post on social media, Peterborough City Council urged residents to be diligent when it comes to disposing of potentially harmful household items. “Batteries should never be placed in recycling or waste bins,” the council stated. “When damaged during collection, they can overheat and cause fires, putting crews, vehicles and the public at risk.”
The council called for everyone who is looking to get rid of unwanted batteries to ensure they are disposed of at places that are designed to handle and process them.
“Please dispose of batteries safely at designated recycling points across the city,” they said.