Keep batteries out of your bins this Christmas
Published on 17 December 2025
Fraser Coast residents are being urged to keep batteries and battery-powered gifts out of kerbside bins this Christmas to help prevent fires and protect the community.
Council Waste and Resource Recovery spokesperson Cr Michelle Byrne said the festive season often led to a sharp rise in the use and disposal of items containing batteries, including many with batteries embedded inside.
“Many of the gifts we give and receive at Christmas contain batteries – from children’s toys and wearable tech to other rechargeable household gadgets,” she said.
“Batteries should never be put in your waste or recycling bins. They can spark a fire in our trucks, at our waste facilities, or in landfill.
“We’re asking everyone to pause before they throw something out – if it has a battery, it doesn’t belong in the household bin.”
Embedded batteries are those built into a product, making them difficult to remove. They are commonly found in toys, remote-controlled cars, fitness trackers, smart watches, vapes, e-cigarettes, electric toothbrushes, shavers and cordless household devices.
Cr Byrne said there were safe and convenient ways to dispose of batteries on the Fraser Coast.
“Lead-acid car or boat batteries can be dropped off for free at any Fraser Coast waste facility,” she said.
“Household batteries can be taken to Woolworths, Aldi and Coles, which accept them for recycling through the national B-cycle program. You can also find your nearest drop-off point at bcycle.com.au/drop-off
“For items with embedded batteries that you can’t easily remove – such as vapes, e-cigarettes, electric toothbrushes and mobile phones – please use the designated drop-off points at the Reuse and Recycle sheds at our Maryborough and Nikenbah facilities.
“Every battery that stays out of a kerbside bin helps protect our truck drivers, the staff who work at our waste facilities and the wider community.”
Fraser Coast Regional Council recently secured funding through the Queensland Government’s Local Government Battery Collection Program to expand local battery drop-off services and community education activities.
As a result, Council will be providing a short-term disposal option for lithium and embedded batteries at all waste facilities from March to April 2026, with more details to be provided in early 2026.