Refuse workers had stopped at the Bancroft Estate at 9am on March 3 to collect waste when they noticed flames coming from the truck.
The team had just emptied out a metal bin when they realised there were flames shooting out from the second bin’s contents.
The London Fire Brigade was called to the scene to extinguish the blaze.
Two fire engines were dispatched, attempting to distinguish the rubbish whilst it was in the lorry.
However, the contents continued to smoulder, and the truck driver was instructed to empty out the load onto the road.
The source of the fire was revealed as discarded batteries from a broken-up electric bike, having been thrown away instead of being recycled properly.
There were no injuries reported in connection to the fire, and only cosmetic damage done to the lorry.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said: “Thank you to our dedicated staff and the London Fire Brigade for their swift action to keep people safe and prevent a more serious incident.
“Unfortunately, fires like this are becoming increasingly common across the city.
“We urge all residents to dispose of batteries and other hazardous materials responsibly at Northumberland Wharf or their local Idea Store, helping keep our streets safe and services running smoothly.”
