The risk of battery-related fires is being tackled by a partnership between four Wide Bay Burnett Councils with a focus on safe disposal options for battery-operated items.
Bundaberg Regional Council has partnered with Fraser Coast, Gympie and North Burnett Regional Councils, supported by Queensland Government funding, to provide specialised fire-rated collection drums at select local waste facilities during April and March for safer battery disposal.
Bundaberg Region Mayor Helen Blackburn said it came after an increasing number of truck and waste facility fires, suspected to have been lit by incorrectly disposed of batteries.
“This is a real and significant safety risk, not just for residents but for Council staff as well,” Mayor Blackburn said.
“Through this funding program, which was jointly awarded to our partnership of Wide Bay Burnett Councils, we’re targeting devices with embedded batteries that are not designed to be removed.
“During March and April residents can bring their items containing embedded batteries to participating Council waste facilities for free and easy disposal.
“The specialised fire-rated collection drums will allow residents to safely dispose of their devices with reduced ignition risks.”
She said the regional collaboration would increase community safety while raising awareness of the risks when disposing of items with embedded batteries.
“Lithium-ion batteries are powering more of the products we use every day. “But they don’t belong in household bins. “This program makes it easy for residents to do the right thing.”
Bundaberg Regional Council Waste and Recycling portfolio spokesperson Cr Jason Bartels said lithium-ion and embedded batteries were built into many common household items and were not designed to be easily removed.
“We’re raising awareness about the risks of embedded batteries when they are not safely disposed of as many residents may not even realise how unsafe a particular item can become during the waste disposal process,” Cr Bartels said.
“That includes any item that contains a battery – so anything that lights up, moves or makes a sound – whether it’s a toy or an everyday item like a watch.”
Items that may contain embedded batteries:
- Vapes and e-cigarettes;
- Electric toothbrushes and shavers;
- Flashing or light-up toys;
- Bluetooth speakers and headphones;
- Smart watches and wearable devices;
- Power tools;
During March and April, residents can bring devices with embedded batteries to participating Council waste facilities for free disposal.
Specialised fire-rated collection drums will be at the following Bundaberg Region waste facilities:
- Bundaberg
- Qunaba
- Childers
- Tirroan
- Meadowvale
- Woodgate
The initiative is proudly supported by the Queensland Government’s Local Government Battery Collection Program, which has provided more than $1 million to councils across Queensland to expand battery collection points and raise awareness about the risks of improper disposal.
Residents are reminded never to place batteries or battery-powered devices in kerbside bins and not to attempt to remove embedded batteries using tools.
For more information, including participating waste facilities across the region and a full list of accepted items, head to bundaberg.qld.gov.au.
