How BINGO Drivers Respond Safely to Battery-Related Fires
In recent times, there has been a concerning increase in fire incidents across the waste services sector nationally related to incorrect battery disposal. These fires pose significant risks to people and property within our industry, and also communities and the environment. At BINGO, we are committed to mitigating these risks and ensuring the safety of our drivers and the communities we operate in. Our aim is to put a spotlight on this issue, to outline the steps our drivers take to manage these emergencies and provide guidance on how you can help prevent these incidents.
The Problem: Battery-related Fires
Battery-related fires, particularly those caused by lithium-batteries, are already a significant issue for our industry. It is estimated that there are over 10,000 battery-related fires a year across the waste and recycling industry in Australia. The use of lithium batteries is expected to treble over the next few years so this issue is expected to get worse.
Incorrectly disposed batteries often end up in waste loads where they may not be immediately visible during load inspections. These batteries can be damaged when loaded onto vehicles (e.g crushed by compaction) or on reaching our transfer or recycling centres (e.g being run over and crushed by heavy vehicles) a short circuit in the battery can occur, leading to a runaway chemical reaction. This reaction generates intense heat and can quickly cause a fire, which can spread to other combustible waste materials in the load.
Know Before You Throw
At BINGO, our foremost priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of our customers, employees, and communities. We are committed to preventing such incidents through our recently launched 'Know Before You Throw' campaign, which aims to increase awareness of the issue and to educate individuals and businesses on the safe disposal of hazardous materials. ‘Know Before You Throw' connects you with resources to find specific recycling and hazardous waste disposal information for your location. By participating in this initiative and following proper disposal practices, you can directly and meaningfully contribute to reducing these hazards and supporting our goal of zero harm across all operations.
BINGO’s Safe Response: How Our Drivers Handle Battery Fires
BINGO’s drivers are trained to identify and respond to what we call ‘hot loads’. On identifying a fire on board their vehicle our drivers:
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Notify Allocations Immediately
Take Action
Call Emergency Services
Reduce Oxygen
Open the back door
Use Fire Extinguisher
Over the past few months, BINGO has encountered several significant battery-related incidents.
