A dangerous reminder out of Burlington this week after a garbage truck caught fire—caused by improperly discarded lithium batteries.
Officials say the incident happened yesterday when batteries thrown in with regular trash ignited inside the truck. Crews acted quickly, dumping the load to prevent further damage, but the situation still led to a hazardous cleanup in the street.
Authorities are urging residents to never throw lithium batteries in the garbage. These batteries are commonly found in everyday items like cell phones, laptops, tablets, power tools, and other small electronics—and can easily spark fires when damaged or compressed.
While other types of batteries should be recycled when possible, lithium batteries pose a much higher fire risk and require proper disposal.
Residents are encouraged to take advantage of safe disposal options by visiting dmcwaste.org.
Officials say taking a few extra minutes to dispose of batteries correctly can help protect sanitation workers, prevent fires, and keep the community safe.