An improperly disposed of lithium battery caused a fire in a Hamilton recycling truck in July. Photo: Supplied/ Hamilton City Council
Lithium batteries, especially from vapes, are causing rubbish fires in Hamilton, after two blazes within two weeks.
Hamilton City Council said five battery-sparked fires have occurred in bags left at the Resource Recovery Centre and in kerbside bins since May.
Hamilton City Council's Sustainable Resource Recovery Unit manager Tania Hermann said batteries in bags or kerbside bins caught fire or exploded when the bags were compressed in the kerbside collection truck or as they were compacted at the Resource Recovery Centre.
"Disposing of batteries in bags or kerbside bins puts people at risk, it's very dangerous and we need to be doing better."
She was asking people to dispose of batteries in a safe way, rather than risk causing a fire that could seriously injure someone.
Hamilton City Council provides a free battery and electrical waste disposal bin at the Resource Recovery Centre and some vape stores have in-store battery disposal system.
"Please take a second to think if there is another way - it really could be the difference between life and death."