We sometimes wonder whether the spate of recent incidents, equates to intentional garbage truck fires in terms of negligence. So when we heard of deliberate fires in Auckland, New Zealand rubbish trucks, we admit to being suspicious. However, in this case the motivation is different, and in the hands of the local council too.
Auckland Council Deliberately Starting Garbage Truck Fires
Local news channel TVNZ reports that Auckland Council is deliberately setting controlled fires, inside its garbage collector vehicles. But this is not vandalism. Officials seriously want to understand the problem better.
That makes sense to us. We’ve always believed that understanding a problem, is the first step to solving it. It is case closed, the local council has to do something about e-bike and phone batteries catching fire, particularly in garbage trucks.
We understand the Council has experienced fourteen spontaneous incidents during 2025, which boils down to an average of two every month. Apparently the size of the offending batteries is not a critical factor. They all generate high heat when damaged, which spreads to other garbage.
This Is a Serious Matter For The Local City Council
However, we should emphasis that local officials are not randomly causing intentional garbage truck fires. This is a serious study in partnership with University of Auckland, according to TVNZ news channel.
One garbage truck driver shared his experience of feeling flames and heat behind him. He knew he had to spew out the load from the compactor quickly. But he also had to be mindful of how to use the equipment, especially in the urban area where he was driving.
Please Be Careful With Your Lithium-Ion Batteries
This problem is going to stay with us for as long as we use lithium-ion batteries. They have transformed our consumer lives for the good, but we have to accept that they are unstable.
Anything that damages a lithium-ion battery – even if it is flat – increases the possibility of overheating and fire. Handing a lithium battery over to the jaws of a refuse compactor, is as careless as causing an intentional garbage truck fire.
More Information
Please Think Carefully Before You Trash Your Devices
Safe Battery Management and Disposal
