Battery ignites fire at West Nowra Recycling and Waste Depot

Published on 15 August 2022

Local fire crews were called to an emergency at West Nowra Recycling and Waste Depot on Tuesday 11 August 2022.

It’s suspected that the fire was ignited by a lithium-ion battery.  If a battery is punctured, the lithium reacts with water in the air vigorously, generating high heat and can ignite.

All batteries, including household and car batteries, have real potential to start fires if they are put in your kerbside bins.

Fires can start in the collection vehicles, recycling facilities or even in landfills.

Thankfully there were no injuries at the fire, but for the future safety of our staff working within the waste and recycling process, it’s important that no batteries of any kind be placed in either of the kerbside bins.

Household and car batteries can be recycled for free at all Council Recycling and Waste Depots.

Retailers, including Officeworks, BatteryWorld and most supermarkets also offer free battery drop-off facilities for recycling.

For more information on how to recycle batteries and other household problem waste, visit Council’s website for the A-Z Recycling and Disposal Guide.

Council wishes to thank local firefighters and Waste Depot staff who worked together to bring the fire under control.

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