This story is part of a paid promotion for North East Waste.
When a waste truck rolls down the street, most of us don’t consider the danger that might be travelling with it. Across the Northern Rivers, batteries tossed into household bins have sparked dozens of fires — in trucks, at landfill sites and even one that seriously damaged a building at a Resource Recovery Centre.
These incidents don’t just threaten waste workers; they put nearby homes, businesses and the wider community at risk.
The cause is simple: everyday batteries and battery powered gadgets ending up in kerbside bins.
When a battery is crushed inside a truck’s compactor, it can short circuit, overheat or vent gas.
Drivers are trained to dump a ‘hot load’ the moment smoke appears, because driving on only intensifies the flames.
It’s a stressful, high risk moment — and it’s happening far too often.
A fire in a truck or at a facility can spread quickly, endangering workers, emergency responders and anyone nearby.
Lithium ion and rechargeable batteries are the worst offenders.
They’re built into so many things we use daily — vapes, electric toothbrushes, Bluetooth speakers, escooters, robotic vacuums.
The list goes on!
Even a single embedded battery can ignite under pressure.
By keeping batteries out of household bins, everyone can play a part in protecting workers, facilities and the community.
Safe disposal is easy:
- Never put loose batteries or battery powered devices in any bin.
- Drop off up to 20kgs of loose batteries, mobile phones and car batteries at your local council Community Recycling Centre (CRC) for free. Find your nearest CRC here.
- Or take loose batteries to a Bcycle drop off point at most supermarkets and hardware stores. Find your nearest B-cycle location here.
- Devices with embedded (builtin) batteries — like vapes, escooters and power tools — need special handling and should be taken to the nearest designated embedded battery drop off site at the Lismore, Kyogle or Ballina CRC.
For more information, contact your council or visit North East Waste here.
It only takes one battery to spark a fire — but a little care at home can prevent a very big fire down the road.
This project is a NSW Environment Protection Authority Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy initiative, funded from the waste levy.