The City's response to PerthNow Cockburn about waste truck fires caused by batteries and aerosol cans, 18.11.24
The City of Cockburn experiences a waste truck fire about once every six months. These are mainly caused either by batteries or aerosol cans.
The image attached is of a City of Cockburn waste truck fire that occurred in February 2024. It was the second waste truck fire in a six-week period in the City.
In this instance, the City suspects the fire was caused by a battery, but we cannot be certain, or of what type of battery caused the fire.
These events are very concerning for waste truck operators and the community and the City deploys a raft of procedures to ensure safety is our highest priority. We aim to minimise risk to staff and the community in the event the contents of a waste truck have to be dumped and extinguished due to an onboard fire.
The truck fire pictured resulted in repair costs of $35,000 with the truck off the road for a couple of weeks before it could return to service.
If a waste truck was to be damaged beyond repair, its replacement cost would be $450,000.
Clean up costs can depend on the location that the material has to be dumped to allow the fire to be extinguished, the amount of waste in the truck, landfill charges, damage to road pavement, storm water and drainage infrastructure, and any landscaped areas.
The City of Cockburn provides safe disposal options for batteries and aerosols at many of its facilities including Cockburn ARC and our three libraries in Success, Coolbellup and Spearwood. There are also many disposal outlets at local community facilities and shopping centres.
For information on battery, aerosol and disposal methods and locations for other hazardous waste including flares, paints and pool chemicals, visit our website:
Hazardous Waste - City of Cockburn