Firefighters were called out after a bin lorry caught fire last night (Friday 9 February) at Brighton and Hove City Council’s Cityclean depot.
Two crews from Preston Circus were sent to the depot, in Hollingdean, shortly after 8.30pm by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.
The fire service said that there were no reports of casualties as a result of the short-lived incident.
An investigation into the cause of the blaze is under way.
Over the past few years, a number of bin lorry fires have been caused by lithium batteries in electronic devices such as mobile phones.
And last October a fire broke out in a block of flats which was believed to have been caused by an ebike battery, leaving 17 people temporarily without somewhere to live.
In Hollingdean, many of the bin depot’s neighbours remember the significant fire there in August 2019.
Last summer, after another bin lorry fire, the council said: “We’re calling on residents to dispose of batteries responsibly.
“Many household electrical items, including vapes, game consoles and mobile phones, contain a hidden lithium battery that can be extremely dangerous when thrown away.
“Batteries placed in litter bins around the city, household waste or recycling can explode and cause a fire.
“Businesses looking to recycle batteries should use a private business waste disposal company.
“This issue has caused numerous fires in trucks and waste facilities in Brighton and Hove and around the UK.
“Last week, there was a fire in one of our collection vehicles caused by a lithium battery from an escooter.
“In 2022, a fire caused £62,000 worth of damage to a collection vehicle and kept it off the road for several months, causing significant service disruption.
“Please don’t bin old, unwanted or dead batteries and always recycle them at a dedicated battery recycling point.”
It’s all very well telling us to dispose of batteries properly but the council don’t take them unless you go, or are able to go, to one of the tips. Batteries used to be taken as part of the recycling when put out in a separate bag but that was stopped some years ago. Some shops (mainly hardware ones) will accept batteries for recycling but I would guess most people can’t be bothered to put themselves out and just throw them in the household waste bin, a roadside litter bin or in a bush somewhere.
I take my batteries to shops like poundland, sainsburys and Lidl. Some charity shops also have the buckets. No need to go hunting for a hardware store.
No need to make special trips either just take them with you when you go shopping
No need for anyone to ‘put themselves out’.
The photos on the argus coverage shows that the fire was in the cab of the truck. So unless it was an operatives vape then the story has nothing to do with battery disposal.
The article doesn’t say this fire was started by a battery.
It says there is an investigation underway.
THEN it goes on to say that there have previous fired caused by batteries in bin lorries.
Correct so here is the “news” component:
Firefighters were called out after a bin lorry caught fire last night (Friday 9 February) at Brighton and Hove City Council’s Cityclean depot.
Two crews from Preston Circus were sent to the depot, in Hollingdean, shortly after 8.30pm by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.
The fire service said that there were no reports of casualties as a result of the short-lived incident.
An investigation into the cause of the blaze is under way.
So the other 75% of space occupied is recycled pap.
Well Mark did warn us. I suspect this only the start of the chaos about to unfold.
Also you can dispose of batteries on most supermarkets
Mark Turner seems to be able to predict the future.
Has anyone asked him for the lottery numbers next week?
Is this what psychic Mark was warning us about? One of the EV lorries, was it?
This is just the beginning of his plan. Rumour has it that he has spent the last few months brainwashing his GMB acolytes that martyrdom is the only real way to prove their commitment to solidarity. It will be suicide vests at Hove Town Hall next
Wow!
Mystic Mark foretells the future!