Batteries
A small act like keeping batteries out of your bins makes a big impact on Victoria’s sustainable future.
When batteries are put in your household bins they can cause fires in your bins, in the trucks that collect them, at landfill sites, and at our Resource Recovery Centres.
All batteries are made up of toxic substances and can pose risks to you, your property and the people who empty your bins. This includes batteries in laptops, mobile phones, cameras, power tools and toys. These hazardous materials pollute the environment when disposed of in landfill.
Never put any type of battery in your garbage or recycling bins. Instead, take your used batteries to one of the following battery drop-off locations so they can be recycled:
Here are some simple suggestions to store your batteries safely at home before taking them to a drop-off:
- Cover the ends of used batteries with duct tape or clear sticky tape, to prevent sparking and reduce the risk of fire
- Store them in a glass container and make sure the container is not airtight
- Don’t keep them in metal containers or with other metal objects
- Store them in a cool, dry place away from heat sources
- Keep them away from children and pets
You can recycle AA, button and rechargeable batteries as well as batteries from cars, laptops, mobile phones, cameras, power tools and electronic toys.