Battery safety to prevent fires

The government is raising awareness of how to prevent these potentially deadly fires and save lives.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority will roll out social media content that warns of the risks of batteries and advises consumers how to properly dispose of old, unused or dead batteries.

A letter will be sent to Councils, seeking their support to encourage residents to never discard dead batteries in household waste or recycling bins.

Fire and Rescue NSW data shows there has been an almost 20 per cent increase in battery-related fire or explosion incidents, when comparing the first half of this year to the first half of last year.

In the first six months of 2023 there were 114 lithium battery related fires, with key items of concern being power packs and chargers, micro-mobility devices like e-bikes and e-scooters and portable power banks.

Local councils and waste contractors have seen a significant rise in the number of truck and rubbish fires caused by batteries, which if damaged can explode and spark fires which are difficult to put out.

Batteries which are thrown into rubbish bins instead of being disposed of safely also contribute to an increase in recyclable materials winding up in landfill.

There are several recycling options available to consumers. Batteries can be taken to a Community Recycling Centrelaunch or dropped off at a dedicated recycling point available at many large retailers like Coles, Woolworths, Bunnings and Officeworks.

Products with batteries embedded in them, like mobile phones, laptops and power tools should be disposed of at an e-waste recycling facility or e-waste drop-off event.

Find out more about battery and charging safetylaunch.

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“Batteries power so much of our lives, but the sight of flames erupting from a garbage truck is a reminder they can be very dangerous. The community needs to understand that bins are not the place for batteries.

“The good news is we can recycle 95 per cent of batteries. But at the moment, only 10 per cent are being recycled.

“It’s time to take charge of battery waste. Households need to give them a new life by taking them to your closest collection site or using your council’s e-waste services. It’s better for the environment and also much safer.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“We are seeing an emerging issue with the rise in the number of lithium battery fires in NSW. We would encourage people to be careful in how they use them in the home.

“The batteries are starting to feature more prominently in fire statistics, with lithium power packs and charger fires an increasing concern for fire crews.

“These fires are difficult to extinguish and can cause significant damage to a home. We would encourage homeowners to take care when charging devices, follow charging instructions and dispose of used battery products safely.

“If you are unsure about using batteries, our firefighters are part of the local community and I encourage you to ask their advice.”

FRNSW Acting Deputy Commissioner – Field Operations, Trent Curtin said:

“Firefighters are responding to an average of more than three battery fires a week from in-home charging issues or incorrect disposal.

“As we bring more batteries into our homes, it is important that we dispose of them correctly once they’ve reached the end of their life.”

Background on case study, Sutherland Shire Council:

Sutherland Shire Council serves a community of more than 218,000 people, collecting approximately 87,000 red lid bins and 43,500 yellow lid bins from residents each week.

Council has experienced a growing number of fires and near miss incidents in recent years due to household batteries sparking and sometimes exploding in its waste trucks.

Since 2020, Council has had seven major incidents where trucks have caught fire because of batteries being thrown in bins.

Council has dedicated battery collection points at several locations across the LGA, including at the Council Customer Service Centre and libraries in Cronulla, Caringbah, Miranda, Menai and Engadine.

Recent lithium battery fire events:

A battery from a mobile data terminal caused a small fire in a ward at Campbelltown hospital on 31 July. Staff were treated for smoke inhalation and the ward was cleared of patients.  Hazmat crews assisted local firefighters to declare the ward safe.

A working smoke alarm saved three men from an e-bike fire in their Guildford home on 27 July. The bike’s lithium battery pack caught fire in a bedroom as one of the residents slept. The flames spread to the bed and clothing. He escaped the property with his brother and father as fire crews arrived and extinguished the blaze and rid the home of toxic smoke.

A man jumped from a window to escape a blaze, thought to have been started by an e-scooter on 24 July. He was asleep in his Merewether home when the fire broke out in his loungeroom. A neighbour heard the smoke alarm and woke the resident. The home was damaged.

On 21 July, a fire believed to have been sparked by an electric scooter damaged a unit at Wentworthville, in Sydney's west. Three people inside the unit managed to escape before the flames took hold. One was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital. It’s believed the scooter, powered by a lithium battery, was left charging inside the unit overnight and may have ignited.

A resident of Merewether in Newcastle accidentally punctured an old mobile phone battery at his home on 11 July. It began spewing out gas and a pungent odour. He followed FRNSW advice to remove the battery from his home as firefighters rushed to his house. But he decided to seek alternative advice over the internet and immersed the battery in salt-water. This was the wrong thing to do as salt-water conducts electricity. The fire crew arrived and immersed the battery in fresh water. It continued to produce gas in the water but did not explode, averting a potential disaster.