A string of fires linked to highly combustible lithium-ion batteries has been deemed a “wake-up call” for waste businesses by Auckland officials, with the public facing exposure to toxic smoke from repeat blazes.
Auckland Council is urging “industry vigilance” around the problem after a scrap metal company was fined $30,000 over a 2023 fire that released toxic smoke near Ōtāhuhu.
A fire at a recycling plant near Glenfield last month was also initially linked to lithium batteries, although investigators were continuing to probe the blaze.
Auckland Council compliance field operations manager David Pawson emphasised “the importance of remaining vigilant despite the novelty of the issue”.
Authorities urged the public to avoid putting lithium batteries in the rubbish or recycling. The batteries were inside most portable electronic devices, such as phones or computers.
Pawson said in a statement: “We recognise this is a new issue and we’re all finding our way with lithium-ion batteries and those handling them.
“But businesses still need to take responsibility for their disposal — this is their business. While we’re all working on solutions, consent conditions still need to be met.”
One firefighter said it was the biggest fire he’d ever seen on Auckland’s North Shore. (Source: 1News)
Emergency alerts were issued to tens of thousands on Auckland’s North Shore last month after the largest fire “for a few years” broke out at an Abilities Group recycling plant.
Residents were urged to close windows to avoid fumes, and some beaches were closed due to chemicals released into waterways.
At the time, Takapuna fire station officer Steven Callagher said there were reports that flames broke out in the area of the facility where batteries were recycled. The blaze was still under investigation, and an official cause had not been determined.
Other recent battery-linked fires have broken out in rubbish trucks in Auckland.
Fire and Emergency crews continued to extinguish hot spots at the site on Hillside Rd in Wairau Valley. (Source: 1News)
‘New and emerging issue’
The 2023 incident at a Sims Metal yard, caused by the ignition of a lithium-ion battery within a large scrap metal stockpile, highlighted a “growing national and international issue surrounding battery disposal and fire risk,” according to Auckland Council.
Judge Smith, in his decision, recognised the unique challenges posed by lithium-ion batteries. He noted: “There has been considerable difficulty in finding a technical solution to the problems with batteries catching on fire.
“This is not only a national problem but an international one; these orders form a workaround solution until more technical solutions, particularly for bulk disposal, are available.”
The judge described the situation as “a new and emerging issue”.
The blaze in Favona has disrupted traffic and sparked emergency warnings. (Source: 1News)
While acknowledging Sims Metal’s cooperation and the absence of intentional wrongdoing, Judge Smith imposed a fine of $30,000, reduced from an initial starting point of $50,000, to reflect an early guilty plea, meaningful cooperation, and the agreement to enforcement orders, according to a council spokesperson.
The enforcement orders issued require Sims Metal to implement several improvements at the James Fletcher Drive site in Favona.
“The orders are registered with the Environment Court and will remain in place unless superseded by conditions with a new resource consent,” the council said.
Pawson said the council viewed the 2023 case as an “important precedent in balancing empathy for emerging challenges with the necessity of regulatory compliance.
“It also highlights the importance of proactive risk management and industry-wide collaboration to adapt to evolving environmental risks.”
Sims Metal was approached for comment.
