Penticton city officials are reminding residents not to place batteries or empty propane cylinders in their home recycling bins, following reports of such materials sparking facility fires elsewhere around the province.
Bleach or aerosol containers with contents remaining, as well as containers for paint or oil, sharps/needles, or pesticides with the words "danger, warning, or poison" also shouldn't be added to recycling bins, the city said in a press release on Sept. 13.
The city's reminder comes as RecycleBC issued a province-wide announcement following several facility fires sparked by hazardous materials mixed with packaging and paper recycling.
"When combined with paper, oxygen, and the type of machinery used, sparks can smolder undetected, creating a risk for fires or explosions," officials in Penticton said.
Penticton residents are instead encouraged to drop off hazardous materials at J&C Bottle Depot, London Drugs, or Action Salvage & Recycling.
