Kiama Council’s Minnamurra Waste and Recycling Depot has joined forces with the NSW Environmental Protection Agency on a trial with 34 other councils to allow residents to safely dispose of embedded batteries or lithium-ion batteries.

Council signed up to the Embedded Battery Collection Trial following an EPA inspection of the Household Bulky Waste Event in March.

“It is critical to dispose of any battery in the correct way – whether it is lithium based or not there is always a fire risk with any battery,” a Council spokesperson said.

NSW EPA chief executive Tony Chappel said battery fires are a serious issue that can have devastating consequences for communities and waste workers.

“We’re leading the way to combat these risks by introducing a product stewardship scheme, but we also need to make sure battery-powered items are being managed at the end of their usable life,” he said.

The Bugle asked Kiama Council if it was necessary for Council to acquire the relevant approvals from the NSW Rural Fire Service.

“The operation of the CRC (Community Recycling Centre) has been in place since 2016. This [trial] is an addition to the offerings that come with large 5mm thick galvanised steel boxes that are used to prevent the spread of fire,” the spokesperson said.

“It is not necessary to liaise with NSW Rural Fire Service.”

According to Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) data, about one in every 100 fires attended involves a lithium-ion battery or battery device.

FRNSW is one of the most extensive metropolitan fire and rescue services and the most called upon, responding to around 20,000 fire or explosion incidents annually.

By correctly disposing of batteries, there are also the added incentives for residents to keep council workers safe and do their bit for the environment.

“In addition to the risk of fire in a garbage truck, bulk transfer truck, processing facility or landfill there is the added incentive to recycle batteries because valuable non-renewable resources can be extracted and reused,” the Council spokesperson said.

“This reduces the reliance on mining new resources.

“Recycling also reduces the environmental impacts related to toxic metals entering landfills and polluting ground water.”

The trial has already started with the delivery of steel boxes to Council and they will will be compartmentalised to contain both embedded and separate batteries.

There will be additional signage indicating the collection of large embedded battery items such as e-scooters and vacuum cleaners as well as small, embedded batteries such as power banks, electric toothbrushes and vapes.

EPA states that oversize items (larger than 20kg) with embedded batteries are not accepted at trial sites. For residents wanting to dispose of e-bikes, contact Kiama Council for more information.

As part of the trial between Kiama Council and the EPA, items are being received free of charge at the Minnamurra Waste and Recycling Facility and there is no requirement for residents to book in.

The disposal of embedded batteries or lithium-ion trials will continue across NSW until next September in 2026.