Refuse workers' lucky escape after lorry explosion

Two north London refuse workers had a narrow escape when a combustible item left in a wheelie bin exploded in their lorry.

Barnet Council said the explosion was caused by an item such as a gas canister, a battery or aerosol being wrongly placed into a residential bin which, when crushed by the lorry’s impactor, caused the bin and other debris to be fired out into the street.

Councillor Alan Schneiderman said: “I hope this helps people to understand how important it is to properly recycle items such as gas canisters and bottles, batteries and aerosols, as on another day we might not have been so lucky.”

The council added it believed the two workers involved were uninjured.

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