Source: Auckland Council
2025 is off to a fiery start for Auckland’s waste trucks with five rubbish and recycling truck fires in the first two weeks of January.
An ever-increasing number of battery-powered devices and batteries in household bins are the most-likely cause of these fires. Lithium-ion batteries can ignite if damaged or crushed as part of the waste collection process.
In December alone, nearly 600 laptops and over 300 12-volt batteries found their way to Auckland’s regional recycling facility, in what appears to have been a pre-Christmas offload by Aucklanders. These account for almost a third of the total number of laptops and 12V batteries found at the site since June 2024.
The Auckland recycling facility, which sorts all the region’s kerbside recycling, has one or two small fires a week with the cause most often attributed to lithium-ion batteries.
Justine Haves, General Manager Waste Solutions, is keen to ensure everyone understands that putting ewaste in kerbside bins creates a fire hazard.
“Electronic devices and batteries can be recycled in most cases, but they contain hazardous substances so require specialist handling. We would encourage people to use takeback and drop-off schemes run by retailers and local community recycling centres,” Ms Haves says.
“Making use of battery and ewaste drop-off options helps keep you and our staff safe, keeps harmful materials out of the environment, and helps us recover and reuse valuable resources.”
Batteries and devices containing lithium-ion batteries present a high-risk source of fires for both rubbish and recycling collection trucks and waste facilities. The combination of flammable electrolyte, with substantial amounts of stored energy, can result in the rapid and uncontrolled release of heat energy (thermal runaway). During thermal runaway, toxic gases are emitted and can re-ignite even after being extinguished.
To try and mitigate the dangers of rubbish truck fires, the council’s Waste Solutions team are planning a new programme of testing to give an early warning to a truck driver experiencing a fire and options for extinguishing the fire inside the truck. This would also reduce the potential for environmental contamination when the load is tipped-out for Fire and Emergency responders to extinguish.
Currently, drivers who notice smoke or a fire coming from their truck must notify their supervisor, who contacts Fire and Emergency, and then find a safe clear place to empty their load.
Batteries are not the only fire hazards placed in bins. In January this year, a half-full 40kg LPG bottle and a partially full ‘jerry can’ of petrol were discovered by recycling truck drivers. Over 300 LPG bottles and gas canisters have been recorded in the past six months at the recycling facility alone.
Fire hazards – car batteries and LPG bottles discovered in kerbside recycling bins.
How to dispose of hazardous materials – battery-powered devices, batteries, gas bottles and other hazardous materials
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Mitre 10 and Bunnings have battery drop-off schemes. Check their websites for more information.
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Retailers often have take-back schemes for used battery-powered devices they have sold. Some large retailers like Noel Leeming allow you to bring in items they did not sell. Check retailer websites for what they accept and participating stores.
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Many local community recycling centres have ewaste recycling and even volunteer opportunities to learn how to safely disassemble laptops.
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Gas bottles and canisters can be taken to a community recycling centre or to a MataGas outlet provided it is empty of gas. Some New Zealand camping stores sell a tool that enables canisters to be fully emptied prior to drop off at a recycling centre.
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Visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/whereitgoes to search for places to recycle or get rid of specific items.
