It’s time to get lithium-ion batteries out of South Australia’s bins
With up to 12,000 battery fires recorded across Australia each year, LGA’s 2026 State Election platform Invest in Local – It Starts Where You Live is calling for urgent state reforms to remove lithium-ion batteries from household bins and establish safe, statewide disposal pathways.
LGA is seeking the next state government to establish a legislative framework in South Australia for a mandatory, fully-funded product stewardship scheme that holds manufacturers and importers accountable for problematic materials and lifecycle costs.
Included in this is support and education for the community to access the new safe collection and disposal pathways for both loose and embedded batteries.
In the meantime, South Australians urgently need access to free drop-off locations for items that contain embedded batteries.
LGA President, Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross said lithium-ion batteries should be the first product of focus within a product stewardship scheme to address the escalating fire risk councils and communities are facing.
“While lithium-ion batteries are safe to use, disposing them through general waste collections can have serious consequences that most South Australians are likely unaware of,” Mayor Holmes-Ross said.
“You only have to look at recent fires at waste depots in Port Augusta and Goolwa, and the recent fire in a recycling collection vehicle servicing homes in Adelaide’s CBD – which were all caused by batteries igniting – to see why urgent action, community education and tighter regulations around recycling are needed.
“Thankfully, no major injuries resulted from these fires, but the risk remains and there is potential for serious workforce injuries, or deaths, in future if effective action is not taken to get batteries out of bins.
“Regional areas are particularly vulnerable, where batteries catching fire inside bin collection trucks, transfer stations and landfills can present a serious bushfire risk.
“We need residents across South Australia to understand the dangers of throwing batteries into bins and for the next state government to support and develop an alternative pathway for the safe disposal of all batteries, and products containing embedded batteries.
“Councils are doing their part by providing free drop-off locations for used batteries and educating our residents about the risks of batteries in household bins.
“But we can’t do this alone. We urgently need the state government to pass this legislation to reduce the number of battery fires before they start.”
LGA is seeking a legislated product stewardship scheme to replicate the one developed by the New South Wales government.
Central Adelaide Waste and Recycling Authority CEO Leah Maxwell said batteries pose the single biggest threat to the waste industry.
“These batteries are in every home and every shed,” Ms Maxwell said.
“Lithium-ion batteries are often embedded inside an appliance where you can’t see them.
“While an old battery may seem ‘flat’, it still contains a residual charge. When that battery is damaged inside a waste collection truck, that stored energy can instantaneously start a large fire that is very hard to put out.
“The problem is getting rapidly worse as the community’s reliance on lithium-ion batteries increases.”
Right now, there are more than 400 BCycle locations across South Australia that accept loose and handheld batteries for recycling at no charge – a safe alternative to putting them in general waste bins.
“It’s such a simple and easy way for our residents to do the right thing,” Ms Maxwell said.
“We need everyone to grab their used batteries and rechargeables and drop them off safely at these sites. It’s so easy to do and won’t cost you a cent.”
Currently, very few lithium-ion batteries are recycled despite commonly being found in toys, smartphones, laptops, tablets, cameras, wireless headphones, power banks and portable chargers.
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For media enquiries, contact media@lga.sa.gov.au or 0476 853 689.