The Community Recycling Centre in Campbelltown is taking part in a new NSW Government trial to help households dispose of problematic embedded batteries found in wireless household products, light up toys and disposable vapes.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is joining forces with Campbelltown City Council to make it easy for households and small businesses to safely dispose of embedded batteries. This will reduce both the number of products going to landfill, and the risk of batteries sparking fires in bins and waste facilities.

As part of the trial, Campbelltown Community Recycling Centre – operated by Campbelltown City Council – is now accepting household embedded battery products free of charge.

Embedded batteries are small batteries which are built into products and cannot be removed. They have become increasingly common thanks to a rising demand for compact, long-lasting wireless devices.

Often found in household items such as single-use vapes, electric toothbrushes, e-bikes, smart watches, portable speakers and vacuums, the batteries are uniquely challenging for the waste management sector because they are made of materials – including lithium-ion – that are difficult to recycle and a significant fire hazard risk.

There were 193 battery-related fires in NSW between 1 January and 1 August 2024. That is an 18% increase on the same period last year. In 2023, the number of lithium-ion battery-related fires in NSW jumped to 285, more than double the previous year.

The Community Recycling Centre in Campbelltown is one of 21 centres across the state participating in the new EPA-led trial, with dedicated waste bins now on site to collect embedded battery products.

E-waste that may contain embedded batteries, including laptops, gaming controllers and tablets, should still be directed to Campbelltown City Council’s e-waste collection service.

More information about the NSW Government’s embedded batteries trial, which is active now and will run until September 2026, can be found on the NSW EPA website here: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/embedded-batteries

Quote attributable to Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren:

“This trial is a much-needed initiative that will help protect our local community and environment by reducing the number of embedded battery products that are mistakenly disposed of in yellow and red kerbside bins.

“Through it, we hope to empower Campbelltown residents with new and necessary knowledge about embedded battery products – including how to identify them, the types of risks they pose and why correct disposal is so important.

“The NSW Government is pleased to be working alongside Campbelltown City Council to tackle this emerging issue and contribute to a safer, more sustainable future for all."

Quote attributable to Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe:

“We want to make it easier for people to do the right thing with embedded batteries, to help prevent fires in bins, rubbish trucks and waste facilities at the same time as reducing what goes to landfill.

“The majority of embedded battery products, including single-use disposable vapes, end up in rubbish bins where they pose risks to workers and communities. But it’s important everyone knows batteries, whether loose or embedded in devices, don’t belong in yellow and red kerbside bins.

“This trial of dedicated embedded battery bins will help NSW mitigate fire hazards and recycle more device components, to benefit our health and environment in the short and long term.”