Auckland Council is warning people not to put electrical or gas items out with their kerbside rubbish or recycling due to the risk of them exploding in rubbish trucks or causing fires at transfer stations and dumps.
There has been an increase in the number of hazardous gas cooker canisters and lithium batteries in rubbish and recycling trucks in Auckland, the council's environment and change committee chair Richard Hills said.
He said that has been causing fires at the transfer station as these materials are dumped.
Kerbside collectors and bin inspectors are also spotting more of these items in the kerbside bins in Central Auckland, Hills said in a statement.
"Because of the compacting equipment in our trucks, there is a significant chance of a fire occurring when items are crushed. Electronics and gas items should never be placed in kerbside rubbish or recycling bins."
Hills said injuries had been avoided due to the vigilance of truck operators and rigid safety protocols, but it is a risk that no one should have to face.
He said disposing of this type of items correctly also meant that more of the waste might be able to be recycled and help the environment.
Hills said putting a flammable item in the bin can lead to emergency services being called out, disrupt collections services and the truck having to go through a full service and check before it can be used again.
"If the fire is in recycling, then not only is the material combustible due to paper and plastics that can catch fire quickly, but the whole load is destroyed, sending around six tonnes of recyclable materials to landfill," he said.
RNZ
