Vienna waste trucks face rising lithium‑ion battery fires

In Vienna, the municipal waste‑collection fleet (MA 48) has experienced a sharp increase in fires and smoke incidents caused by improperly discarded lithium‑ion batteries. Nine such events have been recorded this year, up from three the previous year, with fires occurring during the emptying and compacting of waste bins. The batteries, found in items such as electric toothbrushes, e‑cigarettes, toys and old phones, can ignite when damaged, reaching temperatures of up to 800 °C and releasing toxic gases. One incident required firefighters to forcibly open a vehicle, resulting in total loss of the truck. Smaller fires have also broken out in bulky‑waste containers and at the city’s waste‑incineration plant in Simmering, but were quickly extinguished on site. The waste‑management authority advises that any vehicle showing smoke be stopped safely and the fire brigade called, after which the vehicle is opened and fully extinguished on company grounds.