If waste is separated incorrectly, not only valuable raw materials are lost. It can also be dangerous in the true sense of the word. Batteries regularly explode at waste processing companies. Experts explain the consequences of this.
On March 12 this year, the waste collection center in Feldkirch caught fire. The building could no longer be saved. Fire investigators quickly identified the cause of the major fire. The incorrect disposal of batteries, batteries and aerosol cans apparently caused the fire.
One or two fires per month
At the Ahrental recycling center in Tyrol – where around 75,000 tons of waste are sorted and processed annually – one or two fires on the sorting conveyors have to be extinguished every month. “It usually happens during shredding: the batteries explode and cause a fire,” describes Reinhard Oberguggenberger of the Tyrolean Waste Management Association.
A lot of money was therefore invested in extinguishing systems. But the danger of a major fire has not been averted – as the example of Vorarlberg shows. Oberguggenberger also mentions that in Ahrental the underground waste bunker must be emptied every day for safety reasons.
Greeting cards are also problematic
To prevent fires in garbage trucks, recycling centers and sorting facilities, Oberguggenberger and Alfred Egger, president of the Waste Management Association, are calling on the population to properly dispose of batteries and batteries in recycling centers. This also applies to the greeting card with built-in “Happy Birthday song”. Because they can also be a fire hazard.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
