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If it has a battery, don’t bin it!  

All batteries, from small household batteries to large rechargeable batteries found in a wide range of household items should never be placed in any bins or left out in bulky goods piles.

Just one mistake can start a fire. Even a supposedly dead battery retains a small amount of charge that can spark fires.

They can cause life-threatening fires inside waste collection trucks and processing facilities.  In February and March 2026 there were 2 fires on the Northern Beaches caused by batteries, one from an electric lawn mower. 

An estimated 10,000 battery-related fires occur every year across Australia in waste collection trucks and waste facilities (NSW EPA, 2025).

Most residents on the Northern Beaches are great at getting it right! Items with batteries could be more common than you think – check it before you chuck it. 

Items with hidden batteries  

If you have an item with a battery that can’t be removed (embedded battery) and is listed below, take them to Kimbriki or Northern Sydney Community Recycling Centre for free: 

  • Vapes and e-cigarettes
  • Power banks / portable chargers
  • Smart watches
  • Mobile phones
  • Walkie talkies, wireless microphones
  • Wireless headphones, air pods
  • Bluetooth speakers
  • Digital pregnancy tests
  • Hearing aids
  • Flashing / light up, musical and talking toys
  • Hover boards
  • Electric toothbrushes, shavers and hair straighteners
  • Wearable devices such as smart watches, trackers and medical aids.
  • Cordless stick vacuums, dust busters, mops and robotic vacuum cleaners
  • Cordless mowers, trimmers and garden power tools
  • Laptops, tablets, wireless mice and keyboards, e-pens

If you have an item not listed above contact Kimbriki to see if they can accept it.

Common removable batteries

  • Button batteries
  • D, C, AA, AAA, AAAA, 9-volt, rechargeable
  • Car batteries
  • E-scooter and e-bike batteries. These batteries can be taken to Kimbriki, tell staff so they can be safely disposed of. The bikes and scooters can then go to Kimbriki to metal recycling

What to do with removable used batteries  

•    Don’t bin it – in any bin at home, work or public places
•    Set them aside somewhere safe until you can take them for recycling. 
•    If possible, tape loose battery terminals with clear sticky tape to prevent sparks  
•    Wrap button batteries to reduce swallowing risk
•    Take to a safe drop off point  

Battery drop off points  

Find your nearest safe drop off point on the EPA’s website, B-cycle or A to Z guide, Kimbriki or Chemical CleanOut. Always check the facility’s website first to confirm which items they accept.