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Smouldering battery nearly causes Saanich landfill fire

CRD reminds residents of banned household hazardous waste
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A quick-thinking staff member prevented a fire on Hartland Landfill’s active face after discovering a smoking laptop. (CRD/Instagram)

The Capital Regional District is reminding residents of what can and can’t be thrown out after a quick-thinking staff member prevented a fire at Hartland Landfill.

The staffer spotted a laptop containing a lithium-ion battery smoking on the landfill’s active face. Staff determined the battery was only smoking – and hadn’t turned into a full-blown fire – and were able to stop it from spreading with a fire extinguisher.

“If the laptop was left longer, without intervention, it could have caused a landfill fire,” the CRD warned in a social media post.

To help prevent fires, the CRD is reminding residents that household hazardous waste, such as batteries, laptops and other electronics, can be returned for free at the Hartland Depot and is banned from the garbage.

For more information on those banned items and other drop-off locations, go to crd.bc.ca/hhw.

ALSO READ: Almost half of what ends up in Greater Victoria’s landfill could’ve been diverted: CRD



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