Explosion in refuse lorry prompts warning that bins are only for household waste
THE council has warned that bins are only for household waste following an explosion in a refuse collection vehicle.
A North East Lincolnshire Council refuse lorry, carrying household waste, caught fire at 9am yesterday on Alexandra Road, Grimsby, and workers reacted quickly, dumping the contents of the vehicle onto the road to avoid more serious implications.
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Attending fire: Rubbish on the corner of Alexandra Road and Tennyson Street, Grimsby, after a fire broke out in the well of a refuse collection vehicle.
Rubbish was strewn all over the road on Tennyson Street while it was made safe, but refuse crews "reacted swiftly" to clean up the waste, according to an NELC spokesman.
The spokesman added: "A refuse vehicle carrying household waste was involved in an incident in which a small explosion occurred in the well of the vehicle.
"The refuse crews acted quickly and removed the burning waste from the vehicle to allow Humberside Fire and Rescue Service to extinguish the fire."
The exact cause of the fire was unknown and no-one was hurt, however, the spokesman said it could have been different.
"Had the refuse crew not reacted so swiftly, it could have been more serious
"It serves as a strong reminder to residents that their refuse bins should only be used to dispose of general household waste."
A spokesman for Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said: "We arrived at the scene at 9.04am as we had received a report of an accidental fire that had broken out in a refuse vehicle.
"It was dealt with very quickly and the incident was over by 9.19am."
Chris Pratt, who owns Peacock's Partyware and Fancy Dress – next to where the drama unfolded – said that he saw the clean-up operation when he arrived at the shop which opens at 9.30am.
"I spoke to a couple of firemen and refuse collectors and they thought that the fire might be due to a pressurised cannister", he said.
Mr Pratt also praised the quick work of both the firemen and refuse collectors involved.
He added: "We open at 9.30am and by the time I had got there they had almost dealt with it. The fire was out and they were mopping it all up.
"The refuse collectors came in to apologise for the inconvenience but it wasn't their fault and it didn't affect business.
"It was all hands on deck to clean it up and they got a skip down here to get it cleaned up.
"We couldn't smell it in the shop but they dowsed it all down pretty quick."
For further details about what to place in your household bin, visit www.nelincs.gov.uk/resident/recycling-rubbish-waste or call the waste hotline on 01472 325841.
14 Comments
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by Geoff_Crayon2
Tuesday, February 14 2012, 10:12AM
“g_ums wrote:
"Ha-Ha
"I have a sneaky suspicion that the council's wheelie bin police will shortly be announcing what penalty will be imposed for committing these transgressions."
You weren't that far off the truth with your prediction. Today's article is heading in that direction:
http://tinyurl.com/7lv3hve"
I'll estimate the fines will start at £100 for mixing up you waste. Any advance on that?”
by g_ums
Tuesday, February 14 2012, 10:08AM
“by imbo_seal
Thursday, February 9 2012, 9:39AM
"I've heard it all now!
The spokesman added:
"The exact cause of the fire was unknown and no-one was hurt, however, the spokesman said it could have been different."
Maybe the reason for what I should imagine was an elaborate ruse by the council to get some propaganda in (sorry, make the point) to educate residents in recycling etiquette.
Hence the following spokesman's comment:
"It serves as a strong reminder to residents that their refuse bins should only be used to dispose of general household waste."
I have a sneaky suspicion that the council's wheelie bin police will shortly be announcing what penalty will be imposed for committing these transgressions.
P.S
Would the pressurised canister, possibly the cause of the fire, coincidentally have been accompanied with a lighted flame?"
Ha-Ha
"I have a sneaky suspicion that the council's wheelie bin police will shortly be announcing what penalty will be imposed for committing these transgressions."
You weren't that far off the truth with your prediction. Today's article is heading in that direction:
http://tinyurl.com/7lv3hve”
by TheWrangler
Friday, February 10 2012, 9:37AM
“I think your right Rugrat!
Is about the basics of the fire traingle!”
by xochitl
Thursday, February 09 2012, 11:29PM
“The collection vehicles are all equipped with fire extinguishers aren't they. If not, why not?”
by jamojambo
Thursday, February 09 2012, 7:02PM
“Did anyone notice the difference once the load was dumped!!”
by p_k252
Thursday, February 09 2012, 5:11PM
“I'm suprised at this being the first time this has happened.
I do wonder about the future of H&S because of this, a 'Near Miss' most certainly, perhaps they could have driven it to a save area instewad of dumping in a residential area. Then again if the Training hasn't been given who would know what to do.
The Bin people should look at the roads around Grimsby & Cleethorpes area and choose some safe areas in all the wards, then train the drivers what to do.”
by lesgrange
Thursday, February 09 2012, 4:43PM
“its the right prosedure to empty the load on the road to prvent the wagon from catching fire which cost's aroun 100,000 as long as there is no aditional danger to the public”
by Rugrat1973
Thursday, February 09 2012, 4:22PM
“I think that there could be a health and saftey / training issue here, and I'm not sure it is the correct procedure to dump your load in these circumstances. Since the process of compacting the waste compresses and excludes air any fire would have been short lived should the compactor have concluded it's function.
Spilling your load into the street only presents greater opportunity for further combustion by providing more combustible materials which are open to the air. I feel that this could ahve turned out allot worse had the fire taken hold on the dumped rubbish. I recommend that the council review there health and saftey measures at their earliest convienience. Aswell as report the inicident to the HSE as a near miss.”
by RealworldNot
Thursday, February 09 2012, 2:30PM
“If it was a canister then it would of exploded when the compactor came down on it.its right about education its spot on!!,why don't we put acids,all gas canisters and asbestos in bins seems perfectly reasonable to me!!,Love to put people in danger ,out of sight out of mind!!!!”
by markus2011
Thursday, February 09 2012, 12:37PM
“where was the litter wardens in all this? they would of made a reet fortune handing out fines to there fellow staff members. lol”