Mornington Peninsula Shire says a recycling truck caught fire in Mount Martha on Thursday morning after hazardous materials were placed in a household bin.
The Shire said the incident occurred shortly before 8am when the driver noticed smoke coming from the truck and contacted emergency services. According to the Shire, the driver was advised to take the load to Ferrero Reserve, where fire crews were waiting.
The Shire said firefighters extinguished the fire before the truck’s contents were emptied in the car park, sorted on-site, contaminated items sent to landfill, and the area cleaned up.
The Shire said the cause has not been confirmed, but it suspects a battery may have sparked the fire.
In comments included in the Shire’s release, Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh acknowledged the driver’s response and thanked the contractor and firefighters involved.
Safety tips: what residents can do
The Shire says batteries and other hazardous items should not go in kerbside bins. It says items such as batteries can ignite when damaged or compressed during collection and processing.
Practical steps residents can take:
- Keep loose household batteries out of all household bins.
- Store used batteries safely until drop-off, away from heat sources.
- If possible, tape the terminals of loose batteries to reduce the risk of short-circuiting.
- Do not place battery-powered items (including e-waste) in kerbside bins.
Approved drop-off locations
The Shire says batteries can be disposed of for free at its resource recovery centres.
Mornington Peninsula Shire resource recovery centres (free battery drop-off, domestic quantities):
- Tyabb Resource Recovery Centre – 21 McKirdys Road, Tyabb
- Mornington Resource Recovery Centre – 134 Watt Road, Mornington
- Rye Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre – 280 Truemans Road, Fingal
The Shire also lists other drop-off options including major supermarkets and hardware stores.
Retail drop-off points (household batteries):
- Battery drop-off points are available at many supermarkets and hardware stores. Residents can use the Recycling Near You search tool to find the nearest participating location.
