Kiama’s Community Recycling Centres is among 13 across NSW that will join the Environment Protection Authority’s vital embedded batteries recycling trial.

The program, which has been running for the last 12 months, allows residents to safely dispose of and recycle items that contain built-in batteries, at no cost.

Items such as vapes, headphones, speakers, electric toothbrushes, e-scooters and smart watches are among the disposable products that contain embedded lithium-ion batteries, which cannot be removed.

EPA Chief Executive Tony Chappel, said lithium-ion batteries pose a specific fire risk, and have been responsible for many difficult-to-extinguish blazes inside rubbish trucks and at landfills.

He said battery fires are a serious issue that can have devastating consequences for communities and waste workers.

“We’re leading the way to combat these risks by introducing a product stewardship scheme,” Mr Chappel said, “but we also need to make sure battery-powered items are being managed at the end of their usable life.

“With more than 30 councils now pitching in to collect this problematic waste, we’re making it easier for people to keep batteries out of the bin, so we can protect our environment, increase our recycling rates and keep communities safe.”

For a full list of accepted items and locations, click here.

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