San Jose garbage-truck drivers are seeing a problem no one wants on their route: trash loads suddenly catching fire, likely thanks to lithium-ion batteries tossed in with the regular garbage. In several recent cases, drivers have had to dump burning loads in the street so firefighters can put them out, and city officials say a single damaged battery is enough to trigger a dangerous compaction fire inside a truck.
According to the NBC Bay Area report, the San Jose Fire Department has logged four garbage-truck fires in the past month, with the most recent one happening on Friday. Integrated Waste Management Deputy Director Judy Erlandson explained that once lithium batteries are crushed, they can release sparks, which can ignite materials around them, a risk that only grows when trash is compacted. When a fire starts in a collection truck, drivers often have no choice but to dump the load on the street, so fire crews can safely knock down the flames.
How the city is responding
City and county officials are now pushing a simple message: keep batteries out of your curbside garbage and recycling carts and use proper drop-off programs instead. The Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste program accepts lithium-ion batteries by appointment. Residents can call 408-299-7300 or visit the county's HHW site to schedule a free drop-off. San Jose's recycling guidance also tells residents to tape battery terminals and keep all batteries out of collection carts to cut the risk of compaction fires; the city posts device-specific disposal tips on San Jose Recycles.
Why lithium batteries ignite in trucks
Lithium-ion cells can go into thermal runaway when punctured or crushed during collection. That process can produce sparks, intense heat and toxic smoke that quickly ignite nearby trash. Federal analysis and waste-industry studies have flagged discarded lithium batteries as a leading cause of fires in collection and recycling operations, and the EPA has documented the rising threat to waste infrastructure. The danger is not limited to San Jose; a garbage-truck fire in Roseville last month was traced to a tossed lithium battery, underscoring how a single damaged cell can put crews and equipment at risk.
What residents can do
Officials say residents can help prevent the next truck fire with a few basic steps. Tape or cover battery terminals, place small household batteries in a sealed bag on top of your closed recycling cart when local rules allow it, and take e-bike packs or visibly damaged batteries to the county HHW drop-off site instead of putting them in curbside bins. San Jose Recycles offers step-by-step instructions for different battery types and for safely getting rid of devices that contain them. If you see smoke from a garbage truck or notice a driver dumping a hot load in the street, officials advise keeping a safe distance and calling 911 so firefighters can respond.
The city's contracted hauler, Republic Services, handles both residential and commercial pickups under San Jose's franchise agreement. Environmental Services staff say they are working with the fire department on public outreach and additional driver safety training. As NBC Bay Area noted, crews sometimes have to empty a truck's contents directly onto the street so firefighters can battle a compaction fire, a risky move that city officials say highlights how much safe battery disposal depends on everyone doing their part.
