North Queensland Launches Free Battery Disposal Program

North Queensland councils are rolling out a game-changing program that tackles a growing safety threat: lithium-ion battery fires that have more than doubled across the state since 2022.

The free disposal program, run by five local councils, lets residents safely drop off any items with embedded batteries, from electric toothbrushes and cordless vacuums to e-scooters and vapes. Emergency services responded to 260 lithium-ion battery fires across Queensland last year alone.

"One battery in a bin can cause a fire," explains Rachel Cunningham, waste coordinator for the North Queensland Regional Organization of Councils. "The risks to human health and life as well as infrastructure is really high from that."

Many people don't realize their everyday household items contain these powerful batteries. That electric toothbrush in your bathroom or the cordless vacuum in your closet could pose a serious risk if tossed in regular trash.

Townsville waste truck driver Kirk Tracey knows this danger firsthand. He's experienced two battery fires while driving, including one where he spotted a bright flash on his truck camera and had to race to find a safe spot to dump the burning load.

"It puts you on edge for the rest of the day," Tracey shares. "You start picking up bins then you're thinking, 'Oh, what if it happens again?'"

Townsville alone had 24 fires across its waste and recycling sites last year that required emergency response. Each incident puts workers at risk and threatens critical waste management infrastructure.

The program also addresses a growing problem with secondhand e-mobility devices. People often buy used e-scooters and e-bikes without proper chargers, then use incompatible replacements that can cause batteries to fail and ignite.

The Ripple Effect

This initiative does more than prevent fires. It's creating safer workplaces for waste workers who face daily uncertainty, protecting neighborhoods from potential disasters, and teaching communities about proper battery disposal.

The program extends across Burdekin, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, Townsville, and Palm Island councils. Since launching, vapes have been the most commonly dropped off items, showing residents are eager to dispose of these items responsibly when given an easy option.

By November, councils will review the program's success, but the early response shows communities stepping up to protect their neighbors and local workers from preventable fires.