DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA – Garbage truck fires are becoming an all-too-common sight in and around Dublin — and officials say the cause is usually the same: batteries and other hazardous items tossed into household trash.
In November 2024, the City of Dublin warned residents after a garbage truck caught fire in town. The city said improperly disposed hazardous materials inside the truck ignited, forcing firefighters to douse the load once it was dumped in the street. No injuries were reported. Bay Area Telegraph
Similar incidents have continued nearby. On July 22, 2025, a garbage truck in San Ramon erupted in flames; the driver dumped the burning load in a parking lot so firefighters could put it out. The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District said batteries were the likely cause and reminded residents that batteries of any kind should not go in the trash.
And in the last two weeks, Dublin officials say that garbage trucks have caught fire–likely due to batteries–twice.
The city said in an official communication: “In less than a week, two garbage trucks in Dublin had to unload due to a fire. While the causes were not immediately known, it’s a good reminder to pause and consider what you are throwing away. Improperly disposing of hazardous waste, like batteries, chemicals, or electronics, can cause fires and endanger workers. Fortunately, no one was injured during either fire.”
Dublin’s trash service is provided by Amador Valley Industries (now operated by a Waste Connections subsidiary), which collects landfill, recycling, and organics weekly. City guidance points residents to proper disposal channels for items that can ignite — especially loose batteries and electronics.
Why these fires keep happening
When truck compactors crush a load that contains lithium-ion or even “dead” alkaline batteries, they can spark, overheat, and ignite surrounding trash. Fire agencies around the Bay Area have tied multiple truck fires to batteries disposed in regular garbage.
What Dublin residents should do right now
- Do not place any batteries — rechargeable or alkaline — in your black trash cart.
- Use proper drop-off for batteries and e-waste. Alameda County’s StopWaste locator lists nearby options for safe battery recycling.
- Keep hazardous items out of carts: solvents, propane canisters, pool chemicals, and pressurized containers belong at HHW facilities, not in curbside trash.
The bottom line
Truck fires are preventable. Dublin’s 2024 incident — and the 2025 fires in both Dublin and San Ramon — show how one tossed battery can endanger workers, destroy equipment, and shut down streets. Proper battery and hazardous-waste disposal keeps collection crews and neighborhoods safe.
