South Australians now have more ways to safely dispose of embedded battery products, with four new free drop-off centres opening across Adelaide to help reduce the growing risk of battery-related fires.
The new sites target embedded batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries commonly found in rechargeable household items. When these products are incorrectly placed in kerbside bins, batteries can ignite when compacted in collection trucks or waste facilities, posing serious risks to workers, infrastructure and the wider community.
Supported by Green Industries SA, the SA Government has established dedicated collection points at Campbelltown Works Depot, Adelaide Waste and Recycling Centre (North Plympton), Heathfield Resource Recovery Centre and NAWMA Resource Recovery Centre (Edinburgh North). The initiative responds to mounting pressure from councils and industry for safer disposal options, particularly during high-risk periods such as Christmas when battery-powered gifts are common.
Accepted embedded battery items include:
- Wearable devices such as smart watches, trackers and medical aids.
- Bluetooth speakers and headphones.
- Flashing/light up, remote controlled and ride-on toys.
- E-scooters, e-bikes and hoverboards.
- Electric toothbrushes and shavers.
- Vacuum cleaners (cordless hand-held and robotic).
Minister for Climate, Environment and Water Lucy Hood said embedded batteries are becoming increasingly common in everyday products, especially in the lead-up to Christmas. “We want to get batteries out of bins year-round and avoid an unwanted gift becoming a dangerous fire hazard for workers, facilities and the community,” she said. “These drop-off sites will provide South Australians a free and safe option to dispose of embedded batteries, enabling them to be recycled and kept out of landfill.”
The fire risk is already being felt across the state. Incorrectly disposed batteries are linked to more than 10,000 battery fires nationally each year. In South Australia alone, the Metropolitan Fire Service has responded to around 50 lithium-ion battery incidents so far this year, surpassing last year’s total, while the Country Fire Service has attended around 20 similar fires in 2025. Recent incidents believed to be battery-related include major fires at waste and recycling depots in Goolwa and Port Augusta, as well as a collection truck fire in the Adelaide CBD.
Minister for Emergency Services Rhiannon Pearce said the scale of the issue is alarming. “The number of fires caused by embedded batteries across the country is truly frightening,” she said. “We are urging people, especially over the Christmas holiday period, to think about how they dispose of items with embedded batteries, especially lithium-ion ones, so they can keep themselves and the community safe.”
Industry leaders have welcomed the expansion. Waste Management and Resource Recovery Australia CEO Gayle Sloan said, “This is a practical and welcome step by the South Australian Government that will immediately help keep dangerous batteries out of household bins and out of waste trucks and facilities.”
Emergency services are also warning of escalating risks. MFS Chief Officer Jeff Swann said lithium-ion batteries can become “extremely volatile” when damaged or charged incorrectly, adding that firefighters are increasingly responding to near misses and that “it’s clear we’re heading towards a serious injury, or worse, if behaviours don’t change.”
Alongside the new drop-off centres, South Australians are reminded that loose household batteries can still be recycled year-round at accredited B-cycle locations, including supermarkets and regional sites. Green Industries SA will also run a targeted education campaign to reinforce safe disposal practices.
