A Whitehorse recycling truck caught fire today, because something flammable was placed in a household bin! 

We have had 2 waste truck fires in the last 6 days. A garbage truck caught fire on Thursday 6 March 2025 in Forest Hill. 

All waste being carried by the truck today, was emptied at Campbell Croft Reserve, in line with emergency operating guidelines, and the fire was extinguished by Fire Rescue Victoria.  The cause of the fire is yet to be determined but will be investigated and our ongoing waste collection has not been impacted.

Please help keep our drivers, community and environment safe by disposing of batteries, e-waste and gas canisters correctly. 

Truck fires have serious impacts and consequences such as:

• putting residents and the driver at risk
• 3 fire trucks, 11 firefighters and using thousands of litres of water to contain the blaze
• diverting the truck from its regular route and creating delays for waste collection
• damaging the truck and out of operation for days
• whatever is left of the recycling after extinguishing becomes waste destined for landfill - what a waste! 

This is why batteries, e-waste, gas bottles and other hazardous materials do not go in our bins.  Batteries and e-waste (anything with a battery, plug or a cord) must NEVER be placed in any household bin. They often cause fires, either in the bins themselves or in the trucks that collect them.

How to dispose of batteries and e-waste correctly:

This includes batteries in laptops, mobile phones, cameras, power tools, electronic toys and car batteries. 

• Covering battery terminals with clear sticky tape to reduce sparking
• Storing batteries in a glass container and make sure the container is not airtight
• Keeping batteries in a cool, dry place, away from heat sources
• Dropping batteries off at a designated b-cycle collection point: bcycle.com.au/drop-off/

Bulky e-waste, like televisions and power operated tools can be dropped off at the Whitehorse Recycling and Waste Centre or booked as part of a hard waste collection. Smaller items, like cords, computer accessories, batteries or mobile phones can be taken to a drop-off location. Use the Recycle Mate app or their website: recyclemate.com.au, to find your closest one.

Back to news