A RECYCLING truck fire in Bittern has reignited concerns about the dangers of hazardous waste being placed in household bins, marking the second such incident on the Mornington Peninsula in February.
The fire occurred on Skinner St after lithium batteries, incorrectly disposed of in a kerbside recycling bin, ignited inside the collection vehicle about 10.15am on 12 February.
With flames spreading quickly and no nearby open space to safely relocate the truck, the CFA told the driver to unload the truck’s contents onto the residential street.
Emergency services attended and successfully extinguished the fire.
Acting mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro said the repeat incidents were alarming and posed an unacceptable risk to waste collection workers.
“This follows an earlier incident on 5 February when a recycling truck caught fire in Mount Martha,” Pingiaro said.
“Our drivers should never have to go to work wondering whether they will face a life-threatening situation. They deserve a safe workplace – just like everyone else. These incidents put real people and neighbourhoods in real danger, and that is completely unacceptable.
“We are asking every resident on the peninsula to dispose of hazardous waste correctly. It is a simple action that can save lives.”
Warringine Ward councillor Michael Stephens warned residents against complacency.
“Skinner St is a family neighbourhood – people walking their dogs, kids heading to school, residents going about their day. We are incredibly lucky no one was hurt this time,” he said.
“Please, everyone keep batteries, vapes, gas bottles and e-waste out of household bins. Keep our community safe.”
Council is reminding residents that only the following items should be placed in recycling bins: empty kitchen and laundry containers (rinsed if required), paper and cardboard. The items should be placed loose, not inside bags.
Hazardous materials including batteries (even when embedded in devices), vapes, gas bottles and other e-waste must never be placed in household bins due to the fire risk they pose.
These items can be disposed of safely and free of charge at local resource recovery centres.
Council will contact the household whose bin contained the lithium batteries involved in the Bittern incident to provide education on the safe disposal of hazardous waste.
First published in the Mornington News – 3 March 2026