Fire Hazard Warning for Battery Disposal
Residents are being warned to safely dispose of batteries to help avoid the danger of fires igniting in homes and waste facilities.
Increase in Fire Incidents at Waste Facilities
It follows a growth in incidents reported by waste processing operators.
Battery-Related Fires at Recovery Centre
Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre, owned by Northern Beaches Council and Mosman Council, is experiencing two to three incidents a month of overheated and smouldering batteries in its waste as a direct result of rechargeable batteries being placed in garbage bins, kerbside collections or dumped at the transfer station in Ingleside.
Hidden Batteries in Household Items
In many cases, the batteries are built into household items such as vacuum cleaners, toys, scooters and power tools and are not easily detected.
Seasonal Alert for Battery Disposal During Holidays
A warning to residents to keep batteries and mobile phones out of landfill is being issued during the summer holiday season, when large numbers of consumers source new items and dispose of old ones.
Expert Advice to Use and Store Batteries Safely
It echoes advice from agencies including Fire and Rescue NSW and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, urging people to use and store batteries safely to prevent potentially deadly fires.
Proper Battery Disposal Instructions
Batteries, or items that contain batteries, should not be placed in garbage bins or kerbside collections, as fires can start at the site or in waste collection trucks.
Designated Drop-Off Locations for Battery Disposal
Batteries should be disposed of at designated drop-off areas. For Mosman residents, these include the Mosman Civic Centre, Kimbriki, and the Community Recycling Centre at Artarmon, as well as selected retailers such as Aldi and IGA.
Council’s Free E-Waste Drop-off Events
Council also holds free e-waste drop-off events, so unwanted electronic goods such as computers, televisions, mobile phones, gaming consoles, microwaves and light bulbs can be recovered and recycled into new products.
Upcoming E-Waste Drop-Off Event Details
The next e-waste drop-off event is on Sunday 25 February, from 9am to 4pm, in the Mosman Square car park.
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