A hidden lithium battery sparked a dramatic blaze inside a rubbish lorry at a recycling centre.
Workers were forced to spring into action after the battery ignited inside a load of rubbish, with flames breaking out in the vehicle.
The recycling company described the incident as “one of the scariest calls you can get in the waste industry”.
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They said: “This is every waste company’s nightmare, and unfortunately, it became a reality for us.
“A lithium battery hidden in a load of rubbish had ignited, causing a fire in one of our lorries as it was heading towards our yard.”
Footage shows flames and smoke pouring from the vehicle as workers deal with the burning waste at the Clearaway centre in Basildon, as reported by Need To Know.
The team said its fire training and Fire Prevention Plan meant staff knew what to do, with the load dampened down before the burning waste was removed from the lorry.
Thankfully, nobody was injured and the trailer was saved.
The company said the incident was a serious reminder of the dangers posed by lithium batteries when they are thrown away with general rubbish.
It said batteries can be damaged, crushed or punctured as they make their way through the waste system, causing them to overheat and ignite.
The recycling centre said: “The frightening thing is that they can catch fire without warning, turning an ordinary load of rubbish into a serious emergency within moments.”
The company has urged people not to put batteries in household rubbish bins, skips or general waste.
It said: “Please think before you throw. One battery can change everything.”
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