Safe disposal of embedded battery devices

30 September 2024

Residents are now able to dispose of embedded battery products, including vapes, at the Hawkesbury City Waste Management Facility, as part of a State Government trial aiming to prevent these products causing fires and pollution.

An embedded battery is a small battery that is placed permanently within an item. They are often buried deep within the device and have no easy way of being removed.

They’re found in many rechargeable items that don’t have a replaceable battery including some types of electric toothbrushes, shavers, smart watches, speakers, headphones and vacuums. As the popularity of these items has increased in recent years, so has the prevalence of these batteries ending up in landfill.

These batteries are made of highly combustible materials including lithium-ion and, when damaged, can catch fire. They have been linked to a significant rise in fires at homes, waste trucks and waste facilities.

As part of the trial, the embedded batteries will be removed from the devices and recycled, and other parts will be recycled where possible. The trial will run until September 2026, with reviews along the way.

Only household quantities of these embedded battery products will be accepted. A full list of eligible items can be viewed at https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/recycling-and-reuse/household-recycling-overview/embedded-batteries

The Hawkesbury Waste Management Facility is located at 1 The Driftway, South Windsor.

Details: https://www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/for-residents/waste-and-recycling/waste-management-facility