Waste collection workers acted quickly to avoid injury and minimise environmental damage when the bulky goods load in their truck caught fire last week in Forestville.

Our waste and recycling contractors, United Resource Management (URM), noticed smoke coming from the back of the truck while driving along Melwood Avenue. They unloaded the rubbish in a nearby car park away from people and properties to stop the truck from catching fire. Firefighters were called and took just over an hour to put out the fire.

We don’t know for sure what caused the fire, but these 9 hazardous items are the likely suspects! None of these should ever be placed in waste or recycling bins or bulky goods clean ups. 

1. Batteries: Without safe disposal, used and unwanted batteries can create fire hazards and leak toxic materials. Batteries are the number one cause of fire in trucks and waste facilities, putting workers in danger at all stages of waste collection and disposal. Safely dispose of batteries for free at these battery recycling locations: ALDI, Battery World, Bunnings, Coles, NSW EPA Household Chemical CleanOut event, Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre, Officeworks, Woolworths. Learn how to tape, store and drop off your batteries for safe disposal.
    
2. Gas bottles/cylinders: Pressurised gas cylinders are dangerous when compacted in garbage trucks or landfill. Check your local petrol station for a gas cylinder swap service or take cylinders to Cleanaway Belrose Resource Recovery Centre, a NSW EPA Household Chemical CleanOut event or Community Recycling Centre.
    
3. Motor fuels: These are highly flammable and can be taken to a NSW EPA Household Chemical CleanOut event for safe disposal.
    
4. Flares: As they contain explosive matter, safe disposal of out-of-dates flares is essential to avoid injury from ignition. The NSW Transport Roads & Maritime Services collection service helps boaters dispose of expired flares. The next local collection will be held at Bayview Boat Ramp on Saturday 6 April at 12.30pm and 5pm.
    
5. Butane gas cartridges/canisters: Often used for camping, these are highly flammable when any gas remains. Safely dispose of these items at a NSW EPA Community Recycling Centre or Household Chemical CleanOut event.
    
6. Paint: Many paints are flammable and toxic. Residents and trade painters can drop off unwanted or unused paint and related products for free at Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre or at a Household Chemical CleanOut event.
    
7. Chemicals: Many household chemicals are highly flammable or explosive. Safely dispose of hazardous household chemicals at a NSW EPA Household Chemical CleanOut event.
    
8. Vapes (e-cigarettes): Single use vapes contain lithium-ion batteries which are a fire hazard. Single use vapes can be collected by RecycleSmart for a fee. Reusable vape cartridges can be placed in a Return Unwanted Medicines bin at your local pharmacy for safe disposal. Remove the batteries from reusable vapes first for recycling.
    
9. Products labelled ‘corrosive’, ‘toxic’, ‘flammable’ or ‘oxidising’: These items can be taken to a NSW EPA Household Chemical CleanOut event.

For more information see our A-Z guide to reuse, recycling and waste disposal.