Batteries are flammable and potentially dangerous if exposed to heat. They can combust and start fires when compacted in garbage trucks, putting the community, council staff and property at risk.

Even if they don’t cause a fire, batteries contain chemicals and materials that can harm the environment.

Batteries should be recycled at battery recycling collection points across the city.

Emergency services work to extinguish a fire in Blacksmiths. The waste had to be dumped from the garbage truck due to catching fire, suspected to be caused by batteries.

All types of batteries can be dangerous if disposed of incorrectly.

All batteries are potentially flammable if crushed or damaged, which can cause fires in garbage trucks and at waste management facilities.

Each year in Australia, more than 300 million batteries are thrown away with ordinary household waste, meaning a staggering 8,000 tonnes end up in landfill.

When batteries end up in landfill, they leach toxic materials into waterways and the environment.

Batteries come in all shapes and sizes and are used in a variety of consumer goods.

Your battery or device should say what type it is.

Common batteries, such as small batteries found in household items, are readily recycled at most drop-off points -see the interactive map below for options.

Speciality batteries, such as those found in electronics, cars and power tools, are only collected at some facilities.

However, these are the most important to recycle as they are the most flammable. These are usually rechargeable and are becoming increasingly common in household items, including:

• Mobile phones
• Power tools (e.g. whipper snippers, lawnmowers, drills)
• Laptops and tablets
• Electric bikes and scooters
• Electric toothbrushes
• Solar power backup storage

Lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries alone are consistently responsible for around 25 per cent of all fires at waste management facilities.

A recent rise in the popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters, as well as other vehicles using lithium-ion batteries, has contributed to an increase in battery fires nationwide.

More than 450 fires have been linked to lithium-ion batteries over the past 18-24 months across Australia alone, with incidents rising exponentially year after year.

Fire and Rescue NSW reported 180 lithium-ion battery related fires in 2022 compared to just 16 in 2021, and this trend appears to be continuing as these batteries become more prevalent.

Council has added a drop off point at the Awaba Community Recycling Centre to assist with the safe disposal of these batteries, which are also accepted at Bunnings and Battery World stores.

Council has partnered with Envirostream to recycle batteries collected at Council facilities. Envirostream’s battery recycling technology is able to recover around 95 per cent of the materials that make up a battery, with no incineration involved.

This includes plastic, nickel, steel and lithium that are given a new life.

For more information on how non-Council facilities recycle their batteries, please contact them directly.

• Keep a glass or plastic container for used batteries near your household rubbish bin. Don’t store batteries in a metal container as it can create a fire hazard.
• Take your batteries with you next time you visit the library or supermarket and safely drop them off for recycling.
• Schedule in a regular drop-off. Don’t store batteries for longer than six months.
• Keep your batteries in a cool and dry place.
• Keep batteries away from children, especially small batteries that can be a choking hazard.

To help ensure batteries are used safely, Fire and Rescue NSW advises the below:

• Do not over-charge Lithium-ion batteries or leave them charging overnight unattended
• Do not charge Lithium-ion batteries on beds, sofas or around highly flammable and insulating materials
• Always use compliant and approved charging equipment for Lithium-ion batteries, don’t mix and match components and voltage
• Avoid dropping, crushing or piercing Lithium-ion battery cells
• Store Lithium-ion batteries in a cool, dry area away from combustible materials, and larger devices like e-bikes and gardening tools should be stored outside of bedrooms and living spaces
• Do not charge or use Lithium-ion batteries that show signs of damage