Hunter residents are being asked not to throw batteries and chemicals in the everyday recycling bin after a string of incidents in which local loads went up in flames.
On Wednesday, a collection driver was forced to dump his load at Hexham to save his vehicle from a fire.
The incident was the third in as many months, following other fires involving a truck in Jesmond last week and a Gateshead facility late last year.
Hunter Resource Recovery CEO Roger Lewis said the public's poor recycling habits frequently had "disastrous consequences".
"Once it's burnt, it's burnt - that's off to landfill," Mr Lewis said. "The actions of one resident have basically affected the disposal of 600 households."
Mr Lewis urged locals to think about what they throw, and to bring hazardous waste to disposal points or wait for council collection days instead of chucking them in with the rest of the trash.
"It's confusion, in a lot of cases," Mr Lewis said. "On a lot of batteries, there is a recycling symbol, so people think that it can go in the recycling bin."
"We're just asking people to be a little bit wiser, and only put those items in the recycling bin that are accepted."
You can head to hrr.com.au to find a list of acceptable recyclable items.
