Embedded Batteries Cleanout - March and April 2026
Never dispose of batteries and battery-operated devices in your waste or recycling kerbside bins.
For the months of March and April, Fraser Coast Regional Council is providing a free disposal service for all embedded battery devices, as well as our usual free battery disposal services to residents.
Special UN rated drums will be available at all of our waste facilities across the Fraser Coast from 2 March to 26 April 2026.
Anything that can be charged has a battery inside it, even if you can’t see it or remove it. If it lights up, makes a sound, moves or needs charging, it likely contains a battery.
You can drop off for free at any Fraser Coast Waste Facility during this period:
- Vapes and e-cigarettes
- Electric toothbrushes
- Bluetooth speakers and headphones
- Solar lights
- Power tools and battery packs
- Chargeable electronic toys
Batteries in bins can cause fires. In the last 12 months, the Queensland Government reported more than 200 battery-related fires across Queensland.
When batteries are compacted or punctured in collection trucks or at waste facilities, they can start fires that pose serious safety risks to people and cause significant damage to local infrastructure or major disruptions to waste and recycling services, as well as polluting the air, land and sea near our communities.
Instead, take them to a nearby collection point to dispose of them safely.
Other places you can dispose of embedded battery devices include using the Recycle Mate app or visiting recyclemate.com.au to search for safe disposal locations near you for different types of batteries. The Recycle Mate app also enables you to take a picture of your item to identify the nearest collection points for safe disposal and recycling.
Electric vehicle batteries are not accepted in this program.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to remove the battery first?
Do not try to remove the embedded battery from these devices if it is not able to be clicked out by hand. Using tools to remove the battery may cause damage and increase the risk of fire. Bring the entire device in.
Can I dispose of batteries in my kerbside bins?
Never dispose of batteries or battery-operated items in waste or recycling bins. This includes your households’ kerbside bins. When batteries are compacted or punctured in collection trucks or at waste facilities, they can start fires that pose serious safety risks to people and cause significant damage to local infrastructure or major disruptions to waste and recycling services.
What types of products contain batteries?
If you feel like almost everything has a battery in it these days, you’re not alone. While it’s easy to see where standard AA and AAA batteries belong in some devices, built-in rechargeable batteries are much trickier to deal with.
Batteries are found in many everyday household items, including laptops, mobile phones, power tools, electric toothbrushes, Bluetooth speakers, items that light up, kid’s toys, e-scooters or e-bikes, vapes, and cameras.
How can I safely store batteries at home?
Keep used batteries and old devices with embedded batteries in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, heat sources, or flammable materials.
What are the environmental risks of improper battery disposal?
Improper disposal can lead to the release of toxic substances into the environment, polluting ecosystems, harming wildlife, and posing risks to human health through contaminated water or soil.
What should I do if I have a damaged or leaking battery?
Contact EcoCycle to arrange a quoted collection service from your property:
Lithium-ion batteries with any sign of damage should be treated as damaged and potentially dangerous (particularly if there has been water or liquid in the battery, or exposure to or submersion in saltwater). Handle damaged or leaking batteries with care by placing them in a nonconductive container (e.g. a plastic bag or container) and avoid touching the leaking material directly.
What happens to the batteries after I drop them off?
EcoCycle collects the batteries and embedded battery devices and transports them in the safety-rated drums and bins to their recycling facility in Melbourne.
How do the Recycling Facilities keep them safe from not catching fire or exploding?
Embedded batteries collected through this program are stored in specialised UN safety-rated drums designed to prevent explosions, leaks and fires.
How is this program funded?
The initiative is proudly supported by the Queensland Government’s Local Battery Collection Program, in conjunction with Bundaberg Regional Council, Fraser Coast Reginal Council, Gympie Regional Council and North Burnett Regional Council.
How should I bring batteries in?
If battery terminals touch, they can spark and catch fire. To prevent this, tape the terminals of used batteries. Always use clear sticky tape.
Carefully collect your taped, used batteries and transport them to a B-cycle accredited Drop off point in a fire-resistant container, like a glass jar, for safe disposal.
Keep batteries away from children, especially small batteries that can be swallowed, like button batteries.
Place leaking batteries in a zip-lock bag. Place damaged batteries in a fireproof container or blanket.
Learn more here - bcycle.com.au/battery-safety