Mildura Rural City Council is urging the community to not dispose of used batteries in rubbish bins.
It’s estimated that between 10,000 to 12,000 fires occur each year within the waste and recycling industry due to batteries being incorrectly disposed of.
These fires happen in recycling facilities, collection trucks and landfills – often when batteries are damaged during the waste process.
Tips to dispose of used batteries include:
Take used or unwanted batteries under 5kg to a battery recycling point. These are located at Mildura and Ouyen Landfills, our Service Centres, and the Red Cliffs, Merbein, and Murrayville Libraries. Make sure you cover battery terminals with sticky tape before disposal.
Take batteries over 5kg to a specialised battery recycler including Battery World Mildura. Fees may apply.
Inform the collection point if you notice or suspect any battery damage.
Never place batteries in general waste or standard recycling bins, only use dedicated battery recycling bins.
If storing batteries, keep them in a low-flammable container with a small vent hole or pressure release point.
A further 1,000 fires occur in Australian homes each year thanks to lithium-ion batteries. These fires often start from everyday devices like mobile phones, power tools, e-scooters, battery-powered vacuums, toys, and power banks, typically due to overheating, faulty chargers or damage during charging.
Tips for safety:
Charge devices on non-flammable surfaces -never on beds or carpets.
Use compatible and certified chargers, avoid cheap chargers.
Never leave devices charging unattended.
Monitor devices while charging – unplug if battery becomes hot.
Install working smoke detectors near charging areas.
Always dispose of batteries properly through dedicated battery recycling programs.
More details can be found at mildura.vic.gov.au or by calling the MRCC Waste Education Officer on 03 5018 8100.
