Lithium-ion batteries are responsible for thousands of fires a year and cause extensive damage to waste facilities, trucks and homes across the country.
Australia produces around 3,300 tonnes of lithium-ion battery waste each year, which has caused more than 10,000 fires a year at waste management facilities and trucks alone.
The alarming figures have prompted environment ministers across the country to take urgent action to prevent the fires from having devastating consequences on lives and property.
Waste collection contractor Solo Resource Recovery is seeing an increase in truck fires caused by lithium batteries. Image: Supplied
A meeting of environment ministers was held at Taronga Zoo in Sydney on Friday and ministers agreed to work together on reforms to Australia’s product management agreements for all batteries.
Product management is similar to how container warehousing systems work and acts to minimize the environmental and health safety impacts of a product and its packaging throughout its lifecycle.
It helps governments identify the best option to reduce the risk of fires, support the battery recycling sector and offer the most cost-effective and efficient approach for businesses and consumers.
A key objective for ministers will be to create financial incentives to ensure the safe disposal of all types of batteries, reducing the chances of them ending up in bins or landfill.
A fire at a Wantirna South recycling facility has sent billows of smoke over Melbourne’s east.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek chaired the meeting.
He said the government and states are working together to prevent lithium batteries from ending up in landfills and causing dangerous fires.
NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said Fire and Rescue NSW attended more than 270 lithium-ion battery fires in 2023 alone, but knew this was only a small fraction of the actual number of lithium-ion battery fires. batteries.
“When batteries are not stored or disposed of properly, they can endanger lives and cause extensive damage to property and waste infrastructure,” he said.
‘Ministers across the country have agreed it is time to take urgent action to protect our communities. NSW is proud to work with Victoria and QLD on a regulatory approach to batteries, to drive better design and disposal.’
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said cheaper product batteries have flooded the market in recent years and are now breaking down or reaching the end of their useful life.
“These batteries are being replaced with incompatible alternatives, posing a serious fire risk,” he said.
“Batteries that enter a thermal runaway and explode can start a fire meters from where they are being charged, which could engulf an entire house in a matter of minutes.”
A fire ripped through a home caused by an overcharged lithium-ion battery. Photo: DFES.
Authorities across the country have been urging the public to be aware of the risks of lithium-ion batteries as fires increase at an alarming rate.
Last year in Victoria, emergency services responded to at least one lithium-ion battery fire every week.
In WA, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services responded to 70 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in the first six months of 2024, compared to 110 in 2023.
Queensland authorities recently recorded 47 residential structure fires, eight non-residential structure fires and another 38 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
