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Council joins trial to safely dispose of embedded batteries

Households in the Bega Valley Shire now have a new, safer way to dispose of problematic embedded batteries, thanks to a trial launched by the NSW Government.

Vapes present a risk of fire if disposed into bins, waste collection trucks and landfill.

Vapes present a risk of fire if disposed into bins, waste collection trucks and landfill.

18 October 2024

Households in the Bega Valley Shire now have a new, safer way to dispose of problematic embedded batteries, thanks to a trial launched by the NSW Government.

The initiative aims to help residents properly and safely discard embedded batteries found in everyday wireless household products and disposable vapes.

Council’s Waste Education Officer, Rebecca Bruce said the Community Recycling Centre at the Merimbula Waste and Recycling Centre now has a dedicated bin for these products.

“It’s really common for people to hold onto items with embedded batteries because until now there was no clear way to safely dispose of them,” Ms Bruce said.

“Thanks to the trial run by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), these items can now be dropped off for free, reducing fire risks and preventing hazardous materials ending up in landfill.”

Embedded batteries are small, often hard-to-remove power sources built into items like electric toothbrushes, smartwatches, wireless speakers and vapes.

“These batteries, particularly lithium-ion, are highly flammable and have contributed to a significant rise in fires across NSW homes and waste facilities,” Ms Bruce said.

“Between January and August 2024, there were 193 battery-related fires in NSW, an 18% increase over the same period last year. Of these, the majority were traced back to small devices with embedded batteries.

“Just a small handful of lithium-ion batteries caused a fire that destroyed the Hume Materials Recovery Facility in Canberra in 2022, so it’s important we do all we can to dispose of batteries correctly.

"We're super happy to be part of this important trial, providing our community with a safe and easy way to dispose of problematic embedded batteries.”

Through the trial, the EPA will collect information on the types and quantities of embedded battery products being thrown out, with a focus on improving recycling habits and developing processing capacity.

The trial will run until September 2026, and household quantities of vapes will also be accepted at Household Chemical CleanOut events held in Eden, Bega, Pambula and Bermagui at the following dates:

Eden
Eden Waste and Recycling Centre, Princes Highway
Saturday 26 October from 8:00am – 11:00am 

Pambula
Merimbola Street Carpark
Saturday 26 October from 1:00pm – 4:00pm 

Bega
Bega Saleyards, Kerrisons Lane
Sunday 27 October from 8:00am – 11:00am 

Bermagui
Bermagui Waste and Recycling Centre, Strudwicks Road
Sunday 27 October from 1:00pm – 4:00pm

For more details on the Household Chemical CleanOut, visit Council’s website.

For more information about the embedded battery trial and a list of eligible products, visit the EPA website.

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