A flaming refuse collection truck on the side of the road has become a sadly commonplace sight. These incidents, often spectacular and dangerous, do not happen by chance. Since the beginning of the summer, Strasbourg, Caen, Saint-Martin de Mieux and Faudoas are just a few examples of communities affected by the presence of hazardous waste. Understanding the origin of these fires is the first step in implementing effective solutions, guaranteeing the safety of collection operators while limiting management costs.
Sorting errors: a direct threat to collection
Fires in refuse collection vehicles are a major operational risk for waste collectors and local authorities. They paralyze rounds, damage costly equipment and, above all, endanger the lives of collection operatives and the public. The main cause of these events is the presence of prohibited waste in the collection streams, notably in residual waste or selective sorting bins.
Lithium batteries, nitrous oxide cylinders, fireworks and gas cylinders are all sources of ignition. Mixing these products with other waste materials creates conditions conducive to a chemical reaction or spontaneous ignition. Compression by the compacting shovel only increases this risk, by causing sparks or rupturing pressurized containers.
Lithium batteries: the number one source of fires
Lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous in our daily lives: smartphones, laptops, electronic cigarettes, electric bicycles and more. When improperly disposed of in household waste garbage cans, they represent an explosive hazard. Once in the truck's skip, the pressure exerted can puncture or crush them.
This mechanical shock causes an internal short-circuit, resulting in thermal runaway. The battery then heats up uncontrollably, until it catches fire or explodes. This initial reaction can quickly ignite surrounding waste, such as paper and plastic, turning the skip into a veritable inferno in a matter of minutes.
Nitrous oxide cylinders and pressurized containers
Another major source of danger is nitrous oxide cylinders, either in large cartridge format or in do-it-yourself gas cylinders (butane, propane). Even when supposedly empty, they still contain a residue of pressurized gas.
Compression in the refuse truck can rupture these metal containers, suddenly releasing the residual gas. On contact with a simple spark generated by the friction of metals in the skip, this gas ignites instantly, triggering an explosion. Nitrous oxide cylinders, which are becoming increasingly common as a result of misuse, are of particular concern due to their growing popularity and frequent abandonment on the public highway.
Additional victims: treatment centers
Whether at waste-to-energy plants (UVEs) or sorting centers, fire outbreaks do not spare these essential links in the waste management chain. In 2024 alone, several dozen incidents were recorded throughout France, directly affecting the safety of personnel and the continuity of operations.
According to data from the Bureau d'analyse des risques et des pollutions industriels (Barpi), fires account for 83% of the 578 accidents recorded at this type of facility between 2014 and 2021. These incidents have also risen "sharply since 2010", with an increase "more marked than that observed in other types of facility".
The problem of hazardous objects, such as gas or nitrous oxide cylinders, is taking on a worrying scale: in Haute-Savoie, over 4,000 cylinders were collected from the streets in 2025. Just one of these cylinders, for example, can cause a significant explosion as it passes through the furnaces of a waste-to-energy plant. This has major material consequences, with plant shutdowns, high repair costs for local authorities and lost revenue from energy not produced. 500,000€ is the average cost per MWWU affected by shutdowns per year. According to FNADE/SVDU, the cost per shutdown is between €20,000 and €200,000.
These incidents not only compromise waste recovery, but also threaten the sustainability of treatment infrastructures.
How technology can prevent fires
Faced with the increasing number of fires involving refuse trucks, prevention through awareness-raising is reaching its limits. It is becoming strategic to adopt innovative solutions to identify and understand the origin of sorting errors. Real-time data analysis offers local authorities and collection operators precise levers for action to make their operations safer.
By equipping collection trucks with image analysis systems, it is possible to automatically characterize hazardous waste in just a few minutes. Thanks to this system, teams are alerted during their rounds and are able to take corrective measures to limit the outbreak of fires.
This technology enables :
- Identify high-risk areas: By precisely mapping the addresses where dangerous sorting errors are most frequent, local authorities can target their communication campaigns.
- Deploy targeted awareness campaigns: Sorting ambassadors can intervene more effectively, focusing on sectors, streets or even buildings identified as problematic.
- Measuring the impact of campaigns: By tracking changes in sorting quality in targeted areas, it is possible to assess the effectiveness of actions taken and adjust them if necessary.
- Optimize safety: knowledge of black spots enables collection protocols to be adapted to minimize risks, for example by informing teams of areas where greater vigilance is required.
This data-driven approach transforms waste management from a reactive to a proactive strategy. It doesn't just deal with the consequences of sorting errors, but directly addresses their causes.
Safety is the business of all innovations
Garbage truck fires are not inevitable, but a symptom of a waste management system that needs to be rethought. While the individual responsibility of citizens is essential, those involved in waste collection must equip themselves with tools that are equal to the safety and environmental challenges. Responsible sorting requires not only individual action, but also intelligent, optimized management of waste flows.
Data analysis technologies provide a concrete solution for reducing the risk of fire. By providing a clear and detailed view of the quality of sorting in a given area, they enable us to build effective prevention strategies, protect collection operatives and preserve equipment.
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