Chesapeake garbage truck catches fire after acid, gas left in curbside garbage cans

Jun 01, 2023

After a Waste Management truck caught fire in Chesapeake on Thursday, the city of Chesapeake is warning residents of how to dispose of hazardous waste.

In a social media thread sent by the city on Twitter, aka ‘X’, the load of garbage on the truck was immediately dumped into the middle of what looks like a cul-de-sac after the fire started. Firefighters who responded to the scene discovered that a resident had thrown away “a bucket of acid” in their garbage can, and Waste Management crew members found a partially full container of gas in the load, as well.

“All involved were quite lucky that the situation hadn’t been worse,” a tweet in the thread reads.

According to the Southeastern Public Service Authority, which serves as the the regional solid waste management authority for the greater Hampton Roads area, hazardous waste should be properly disposed of at the SPSA Transfer Station. Hazardous waste includes automotive products, batteries, cleaning products and flammables. For Chesapeake residents, the station is open on the first Wednesday and third Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for hazardous waste disposal.

Eliza Noe, [email protected]

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