Individuals are continually harming garbage trucks by discarding car batteries in the waste.

      Mack

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      Proper disposal of used car batteries is crucial. Whether they are lead-acid or modern lithium-ion types, batteries harbor toxic and potentially flammable substances that can leak if not managed correctly. Three recent events across the nation indicate that not everyone is aware of this issue.

      Last Friday, a garbage truck in Rio Bravo, Texas, sustained damage after a trash bin filled with car batteries was dumped into it, as reported by the Laredo Morning Times. A city spokesperson informed the publication that the damage was “significant” but did not provide further details, instead emphasizing the necessity for a specialized mechanic to repair the truck in preparation for possible interruptions in garbage collection while it’s out of service.

      Has anyone involved in this ever heard of a core charge?

      Garbage trucks compact their loads using large hydraulic mechanisms. This process is problematic when batteries are included, as crushing them can release hazardous chemicals that may ignite.

      That’s precisely what occurred earlier this week in Roseville, California. On Wednesday, officials from the Northern California city, located near Sacramento, released a video showing lithium-ion batteries igniting in a garbage truck. They urged residents not to discard these batteries in the trash. Sacramento Fire officials informed the local CBS News affiliate that these fires can emit toxic gases and occur very rapidly.

      “Once a lithium-ion battery ruptures in the back of a trash truck, the ensuing chain reaction takes place so swiftly and violently that it leads to rapid fire expansion,” stated Justin Sylvia from Sacramento Fire.

      On the same day the City of Roseville issued its public service announcement, Troy, Michigan’s fire department reported a fire in a garbage truck caused by lithium-ion batteries. The driver emptied the truck to prevent the fire from spreading from the bin into the truck itself, according to a Facebook update. Firefighters discovered a lithium-ion battery among the debris while extinguishing the fire, which they determined to be the source.

      Such incidents are not new—Gothamist reported a series of battery fires in New York City’s garbage trucks in 2024—but having three occurrences in just one week is decidedly concerning. To avoid becoming part of such news stories, always dispose of car batteries at approved recycling locations such as auto parts stores and household hazardous waste drop-off sites. There’s a reason batteries carry that label showing a trash can with a slash through it.