Redland City Council is urging residents to dispose of batteries safely after a series of waste truck and recycling centre fires over the past year.
Mayor Jos Mitchell said incorrect battery disposal can lead to fires, putting waste truck drivers, facility staff, and the community at risk.
“As lithium batteries in particular become more prevalent in the community, we are asking our residents to ensure they are familiar with the appropriate locations for disposal,” the Mayor said.
“By taking your batteries to dedicated drop-off points and never disposing of them in a bin, we can all achieve a fire-free 2026 and help to keep our community safe.
“You can check your nearest battery drop-off locations on the Recycle Mate smartphone app or through the B-cycle website.”
Council reported six battery-related fires in waste trucks over the past 12 months, with a further two occurring at Council Recycling and Waste Centres.
In May 2025, two waste truck fires occurred within hours of each other at Capalaba, forcing drivers to unload their trucks and evacuate.
“This is a demonstration of the risk batteries pose to our waste truck drivers, the emergency services responding to these incidents, and the broader community,” the Mayor said.
“While trucks are equipped with cameras for monitoring of dangerous items, batteries are generally small and can be hard to spot when they become mixed up with other items.
“Compaction or contact with a heat or water source is all it takes for a lithium-ion battery to catch fire or explode, with AA, AAA and other common household batteries also posing a risk.
“Like all of us, waste truck drivers and workers at waste and recycling facilities deserve a safe working environment – and we can all contribute to this by keeping batteries out of bins.”
Mayor Mitchell also reminded residents to check everyday items for batteries before disposal, including electric toothbrushes, children’s toys, drills, laptops, vapes, vacuums, and light-up decorations used during Christmas and New Year celebrations.
“It is easy to make the mistake of throwing these items away without giving a second thought to what might be hidden inside,” the Mayor said.
“Please ensure you always check these items before disposing of them.”
Recycling and Waste Portfolio representative Cr Tracey Huges said safe disposal points are widely available.
“Places such as Aldi, Woolworths, Coles, Bunnings Warehouse and Battery World all offer battery recycling,” Cr Huges said.
“Residents are urged not to bring lithium-ion batteries or electric vehicle batteries to Council’s Recycling and Waste Centres as they are not accepted due to fire risk.
“Please also ensure you dispose of other hazardous items such as gas bottles, hot ash, flares, out of date fire extinguishers and volatile substances in the correct locations.
“You can find more details about hazardous waste on Council’s website, with further information about safe disposal of lithium batteries available on the Queensland Fire Department website.
“Making proper battery disposal part of your New Year’s resolution is an easy way to help us prevent further waste truck fires from occurring.”
