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A fire at Wānaka's transfer station has prompted a warning about the safe disposal of batteries.
Staff who saw smoke coming from a rubbish truck arriving at the facility diverted it to a designated unloading area and firefighters arrive to extinguish the blaze.
The suspected cause of the fire last Wednesday was identified as a single D-size battery and associated electronic waste.
Operations at the transfer station were temporarily suspended for approximately 30 minutes while emergency services ensured the area was safe.
The incident was an important reminder that batteries or electronic devices should never be placed in rubbish and recycling bins, QLDC infrastructure operations manager Simon Mason said.
"Even a single battery can create a serious fire risk once it enters the waste system. We're grateful for the quick response from staff and Fire and Emergency New Zealand, and this incident highlights once again why it is so important that batteries are disposed of correctly.
"Whether it's a lithium battery, household AA, or a larger D-size battery, all batteries have the potential to ignite if they are damaged or crushed during collection and processing."
Batteries and electronic waste can be dropped off at the Wānaka Transfer Station and Frankton Transfer Station for safe recycling, or residents can use the WasteMINZ Online Battery Map to find their nearest battery collection point.
- Allied Media
