Killer gas hazard

Unwanted gas bottles are posing a potentially killer hazard to rubbish collectors, councils say.

The Christchurch City Council said almost every day a gas bottle was dumped in either the general rubbish or recycling wheelie bins provided to householders.

"If gas bottles have even the smallest amount of gas left in them and are then tipped into a collection truck and compacted, there is a serious chance of them exploding," said council spokesman Mark Christison.