Australia Day clean-ups prompt reminder on battery disposal across Moreton Bay

With the Australia Day long weekend approaching, many households across the City of Moreton Bay are using the break to tackle post-Christmas clean-ups, garage clear-outs and tip runs.

But residents are being reminded that old batteries should never be thrown in household or recycling bins, following ongoing incidents at local waste facilities caused by incorrect disposal.

City of Moreton Bay waste facilities are now dealing with an average of 12 battery-related fires each month, with incidents continuing to rise across Queensland and posing risks to waste trucks, facilities, workers and surrounding communities.

Why batteries are a serious fire risk

Damaged or discarded batteries, particularly lithium batteries found in everyday items such as toys, power tools, phones and e-scooters, can spark when compacted in rubbish trucks or landfill machinery.

These incidents can cause fires, toxic smoke and chemical releases, sometimes requiring emergency responses and temporary shutdowns at waste facilities.

In Moreton Bay alone, contracted waste trucks have experienced 17 ‘hot load’ incidents between November 2023 and November 2025, resulting in fire, smoke or chemical events at collection or disposal sites. 

Where to safely dispose of batteries

To make safe disposal easier, all City of Moreton Bay waste facilities now accept household and rechargeable batteries, including lithium batteries.

Residents can also drop off loose batteries at major retailers including Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and Bunnings. Battery terminals should be taped over before disposal to prevent sparking.

City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said batteries should be treated as hazardous waste.

“First and foremost, batteries and waste don’t mix. When thrown into household or recycling bins, they pose serious fire risks during collection and processing which has led to more than 200 fires across Queensland in the past year alone,” Mayor Flannery said.

Timing matters during busy long weekends

Waste services typically see an increase in activity during long weekends, particularly when residents are cleaning out homes, sheds and storage areas.

Council is urging locals to take a few extra minutes to separate batteries before heading to the tip or placing bins out for collection, helping reduce the risk of fires and keeping workers safe.

Residents can find nearby battery drop-off locations via council waste facilities or approved retail collection points.