A statewide push is making battery recycling safer and more accessible for Victorian households through council-led collection points.
A growing network of battery collection points is being rolled out across Victoria as the State Government works with councils to reduce fire risks and keep hazardous waste out of landfill, with support delivered through Sustainability Victoria.
The expansion forms part of a broader effort by the Victorian Government to make it safer and easier for households to recycle used batteries, while protecting waste workers, communities and the environment from the risks associated with improper disposal.
Under the program, 50 new battery collection points are being established across the state, alongside upgrades to existing sites. More than 30 of these locations will be based in regional areas, improving access to safe disposal options for communities outside metropolitan centres.
Former Victorian Minister for Environment, Steve Dimopoulos, said the program was designed to make battery disposal more convenient while addressing a serious safety risk.
“We’re making it safer and easier to dispose of batteries, reducing fire risks and protecting our environment from harmful chemicals,” Dimopoulos said.
“When batteries are recycled correctly, the materials can be recovered and given a second life as a new product.”
The expansion comes as councils across Victoria continue to report the growing challenges associated with battery waste, particularly in kerbside collection systems where batteries can cause fires if damaged or crushed in collection trucks.
The risks are not insignificant. Batteries can ignite under pressure or when exposed to heat, posing a threat to waste operators and infrastructure. Recycling them through specialist facilities ensures they are handled safely and that valuable materials such as copper, nickel and steel can be recovered and reused.
Local action: Campaspe Shire Council’s approach
For Campaspe Shire Council, the program has come at a critical time.
Council applied for funding through the program to address a rising number of battery-related incidents in its kerbside waste collection system, including multiple truck fires over an 18-month period.
Campaspe Shire Council Director Sustainability, Michael Sharp, said improving access to safe disposal options was a key priority.
“Council applied for the grant to further reduce the battery-related fire risk we’ve experienced in our kerbside service,” he said.
“We’ve had five truck fires in 18 months, so it’s clear there’s a real need to make safe battery and small e-waste drop-off more accessible and convenient for our community.”
While Council already provides battery drop-off options, Sharp said incidents were still occurring, highlighting the importance of expanding and improving infrastructure to support safer disposal practices.
The grant will enable Campaspe Shire Council to build on its existing network of eight battery drop-off points, adding seven new in-town locations across key community hubs.
These include five at council customer service centres and two at local libraries, with additional opportunities being explored in partnership with community organisations to further extend access over time.
The expansion reflects a shift towards embedding recycling infrastructure within everyday community spaces, making it easier for residents to dispose of batteries responsibly as part of their regular routines.
In addition to new collection points, the council will also upgrade its existing infrastructure across eight Resource Recovery Centres, with improvements funded through a combination of the grant and council investment.
Sites at Echuca and Mt Scobie will receive direct funding through the program, while the remaining six will be upgraded by the council.
Each site will feature improved storage and separation systems, as well as enhanced signage designed to educate users and support correct disposal practices.
Safety remains a key focus in the rollout.
“Each proposed site requires an extensive risk assessment to confirm it is suitable to host a battery drop-off point,” Sharp said.
“This includes checks on placement, separation distances and appropriate signage. It’s critical that these batteries can be stored safely on an ongoing basis.”
To deliver the upgrades, Council has worked closely with internal teams including libraries, customer service and occupational health and safety specialists, ensuring all new and upgraded sites meet stringent safety requirements.
Education is also a central component of the program, complementing the physical infrastructure with ongoing community engagement.
Campaspe Shire Council already participates in the national B-cycle scheme, a recognised battery recycling program that provides accredited drop-off points across Australia through the B-cycle network.
Through its waste education campaign, WickED (Waste in Campaspe: Know, Educate, Do), Council delivers messaging across multiple channels including social media, council publications, its website and on-site signage.
The program also includes hands-on community education sessions, where residents can learn how to safely store used batteries at home before dropping them off.
“We also run education sessions, including practical activities where residents can create an at-home battery container to safely store used batteries until they can be dropped off,” Sharp said.
Council continues to direct residents to accredited drop-off locations through national platforms such as Recycling Near You and the RecycleMate app, ensuring households have access to up-to-date information on where and how to recycle batteries safely.
A new educational video, Dispose of Batteries – Avoid Truck Fires, has also been released, reinforcing the importance of safe disposal practices and highlighting the risks associated with putting batteries in kerbside bins.
Sharp said the combination of education and infrastructure was key to driving behaviour change.
“This program will strengthen our efforts by pairing education with more visible, convenient, easy-to-use infrastructure in town,” he said.
The broader benefits of the program extend beyond safety.
“Expanding our battery recycling locations will reduce contamination in kerbside bins, lower the risk of waste truck fires and keep hazardous materials out of landfill,” Sharp said.
“It will also increase resource recovery and the recycling of valuable materials. This aligns with our waste strategy by minimising waste and prioritising recycling over disposal.”
For Sustainability Victoria, the program reflects a broader commitment to supporting local government in delivering practical, community-focused waste solutions.
The organisation has played a central role in enabling councils such as Campaspe to expand their recycling infrastructure, particularly in regional areas where access to specialised disposal facilities can be limited.
The funding provided through the program covers a significant portion of project costs, with Campaspe Shire Council noting that the grant will account for almost two thirds of the overall investment.
Sustainability Victoria has also provided templates and guidance to assist councils in planning and delivering their rollout, helping to streamline implementation and ensure consistency across the network of sites.
Looking ahead, Council will continue to monitor how residents use the new and upgraded collection points, using this data to inform future decisions about the program.
“We will monitor usage and collected volumes at each location and may adjust or expand the network based on community demand,” Sharp said.
As more collection points come online across the state, the initiative is expected to play an increasingly important role in reducing battery-related incidents and improving recycling outcomes.
For households, the message remains clear: batteries should never go in kerbside bins.
“Never bin batteries,” Sharp said.
“Using dedicated battery recycling points helps prevent truck fires, protects the environment from hazardous waste and ensures precious materials are recovered.”
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