Racine DPW Driver Averts Fire Disaster After Battery Ignites in Trash

RACINE, Wis. (WRJN) – A quick-thinking Racine garbage truck driver may have stopped a bigger disaster this week when he noticed smoke rising from his load and pulled over just in time.

The driver dumped the burning trash on Marquette Street, where the Racine Fire Department confirmed the cause – a lithium-ion battery that someone had tossed in the garbage. No one was hurt, but city officials said the outcome could have been much worse.

“Batteries don’t belong in trash or recycling carts,” the city warned in a safety reminder. Improper disposal can spark fires that the statement says threaten workers, emergency responders, and the public, while also damaging trucks and facilities.

People are being told to make sure they drop off batteries at household hazardous waste events or at approved battery recycling locations.

For people looking to safely dispose of batteries and other electronics, the Village of Mount Pleasant is hosting its next electronics recycling event Saturday, Sept. 27 from 9 a.m. to noon at Village Hall, 8811 Campus Drive.

The event is open to residents and businesses in Mount Pleasant and nearby communities, including Racine, Sturtevant, Caledonia, Elmwood Park, and Wind Point. Drivers are asked to follow traffic signs, stay in their vehicles, and have cash ready for items that require a fee.

More information about accepted items is available on the village’s website.