Batteries are the worst. We collect 2 ton (2,000 kg, 4,400lb) of mixed batteries a week. Lithium batteries should be banned. We have several small fires a week. Usually the 360 loader driver pulls burning waste from the pile. Some times we have to get the fire hoses out. Every one has fire training, every 6 months.

One of our departments is currently dealing with a mobile company, destroying their old produces. All of them have lithium batteries in them, that need removing. They work next to bins of sand, expecting fires. The batteries are stored in plastic drums (about 250kg) layered in sand. When the trucks move them, we have to drive very slowly. To rough and the batteries get thrown around in the drums and catch fire 10 minutes later.

Now a fire in the waste pile is not to bad, bit of flame and a little smoke, and get put out quickly. A fire in a drum of lithium batteries, is not nice. The go up quickly, produce a lot of fume/smoke. You cannot see a thing and the smell is horrendous. The only way to get to the fire is to spread the batteries on the floor (with the 360) and soaking them. Even the clear up is bad, the smell is bad. Even the water used to put the fire out has to be collected, put in an IBC, ready for specialist hazardous waste collection.

After helping put out 4 of these fires, over 3 weeks, I'm am not helping next time. I had days of breathing problems after each of those fires.

Lithium batteries can do one.