Household batteries can have serious and harmful impacts if we dispose of them incorrectly. Lithium batteries are particularly dangerous.
Fires caused by batteries placed in household bins are unfortunately becoming more common, placing people and the environment at risk. Last year, discarded batteries sparked over 10,000 fires in Australia.
Batteries should NEVER be placed in any of your household bins, as they can overheat and catch fire inside collection trucks or at waste facilities. When they are exposed to the mechanical compaction in the back of collection trucks, combined with friction, heat, and other flammable material such as cardboard, this creates the perfect environment for fires.
Thankfully, it’s easy to store and recycle batteries safely. When your battery is used up, place some clear tape over the terminals and store them in a cardboard box or container with air flow until you can drop them off at your nearest battery recycling point. Most household batteries can be recycled at the Thornleigh Community Recycling Centre and other accredited B-cycle drop off points, which include major supermarkets and retailers.
To find your nearest B-cycle drop off point, visit bcycle.com.au
