Battery Fire In Heights Garbage Truck Highlights Ongoing Hazard

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY – A sanitation truck caught fire on Friday morning near 1511 St. Nicholas Avenue in Washington Heights, officials confirmed.

A call was received just before 9 a.m., a spokesperson for the FDNY told Patch, and on scene, emergency responders found a non-active lithium battery smoking inside a sanitation truck.

There were no injuries, and haz mat disposed of the battery, officials said. Video on public safety app Citizen appears to show a big mess on St. Nicholas Avenue.

A ‘Threat’

“The improper disposal of lithium batteries remains an issue that threatens the health and lives of our sanitation workers,” a spokesperson for the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) told Patch.

“To date, we have had 30 collection truck fires this year that are either confirmed or likely caused by a lithium battery. Thankfully, these fires have not resulted in any injuries.”

Battery fires in collection trucks have been increasing in recent years. There were 28 such fires in 2023, 10 in 2022, and 3 in 2021, according to DSNY.

While New Yorkers can put household alkaline batteries in the trash, it is dangerous – and illegal – to dispose of all rechargeable and most single-use lithium batteries with trash or recycling.

DSNY operates Special Waste Drop-Off Sites in every borough on Saturdays, as well as on the last Friday of the month from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for on holidays or during severe weather. The department also hosts solvents, automotive, flammables, and electronics disposal events every year, with events in every borough this fall.

All stores in New York State that sell rechargeable batteries or products containing them must accept rechargeable batteries for recycling. This includes hardware stores, office supply stores, drugstores, and electronics stores. If a store that sells rechargeable batteries refuses to accept your batteries, contact the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation online or call 1-800-TIPP DEC (1-800-847-7332).

Major Safety Concern

As of July, lithium batteries had started 733 fires citywide since 2019, killing 29 New Yorkers and injuring 442 more. The batteries have surpassed electrical fires as the top cause of civilian fire deaths in the five boroughs, according to a 2023 FDNY report.

Many of these fires are connected to e-bikes, which are used by the city's roughly 70,000 food delivery workers.

Mayor Eric Adams launched a $2 million trade-in program targeting unsafe e-bikes – which are typically powered by the hazardous batteries – in July. Participants must reside in New York City, be at least 18 years of age, have earned at least $1,500 over the past year as a food delivery worker, and own an eligible, working e-bike. Applications open in early 2025.

For more information on how to safely dispose of lithium batteries, call 311 or visit nyc.gov/batteries.