Watch: Battery fire at town dump sends debris flying, people ducking for cover

Tasman District Council has issued a battery disposal warning after a fire erupted at a resource recovery centre, causing battery fragments to catapult into the air.

Lithium-based batteries found in laptops and vapes can ignite when crushed in a rubbish truck or at a transfer station.

CCTV at the Richmond Resource Recovery Centre last month shows smoke billowing from a bin.

Moments later, flames erupt as two people metres away rush to escape.

The council said the incident happened while a customer delivered a large quantity of batteries.

“While helping the customer to place the batteries into the battery collection bin, a staff member saw one of the batteries ignite,” the council said.

“The fire resulted in several battery components being thrown into the air, forcing the customer to quickly move their vehicle away from the collection area.”

Battery parts flew into the air during a fire at Tasman recovery centre. Photo / Tasman District Council

Staff responded promptly, and the incident was safely brought under control, they said.

The council said it “highlighted key safety concerns” and outlined why they could no longer receive batteries at their Service Centres.

They said the circumstances surrounding the battery failure were being “reviewed” to identify opportunities for improving battery handling and fire risk management procedures.

They said people with unwanted batteries should take them to their closest Resource Recovery Centre in Richmond, Māriri, Murchison, Collingwood or Tākaka to use specially designed battery disposal bins.

In March, Auckland Council had recorded at least 35 battery-related fires across its rubbish trucks and recycling facilities since the start of last year.

That included one in Lynfield, where the truck had to dump its burning load on the street.