Local Government Battery Collection Program
On 13 February 2025, the Queensland Government announced a three-point plan to address the risks of battery fires to human safety, council infrastructure and the environment. The three-point plan includes:
- providing $2 million in grants to support councils to expand their battery collection points at convenient locations, including for problem batteries like those found in vapes and e-scooters
- working closely with the waste industry on practical ways to reduce fire risks to protect workers and essential waste services
- equipping Queenslanders with information to make informed decisions about safe battery disposal through education and awareness initiatives.
The Local Government Battery Collection Program (the Program) establishes the platform for the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (the department) to deliver on the first initiative of the three-point plan.
The Program provides grants to assist councils or groups of councils deliver safe and convenient collection, separation, and/or storage locations in their region for problem batteries that currently have limited options for disposal.
More information about the Program is available in the Program guidelines 566 KB) .
| Recipient | Project description | Funding allocated |
|---|---|---|
| Burdekin Shire Council (on behalf of Burdekin Shire Council, Charters Towers Regional Council, Hinchinbrook Shire Council, Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council and Townsville City Council) | The project will establish problem battery collection points at 11 new locations across five North Queensland councils. The project will launch with an amnesty weekend and then continue for a 12-month period. | Contract under development |
| City of Moreton Bay | The project will install new dedicated battery storage sheds at three Waste Transfer Stations. | Contract under development |
| Douglas Shire Council (on behalf of Cook Shire Council, Douglas Shire Council, Mareeba Shire Council and Tablelands Regional Council) | This project will install accessible drop-off points for problem batteries at key regional community and waste facility locations. The project will include community awareness about the new drop-off points. | $100,000 |
| Fraser Coast Regional Council (on behalf of Bundaberg Regional Council, Fraser Coast Regional Council, Gympie Regional Council and North Burnett Regional Council) | The project will establish a temporary problem battery collection program. Problem batteries will be accepted at 28 sites within four regional councils. The project will be delivered for an 8-week period and will include community awareness about the new collection points. | $99,750 |
| Longreach Regional Council | The project will establish a trial problem battery collection point at the Longreach Landfill Facility. A UN-rated, fireproof bin will be installed and monitored with smart sensors. Data collected through the trial will inform decisions about collections in other remote council areas within the region. | Contract under development |
| Mount Isa City Council | The project will introduce a mobile battery collection trailer to service three locations in the council area. The custom mobile battery trailer will feature fire sensors, educational displays, signage and promotional materials. The project will also purchase a secure fire-safe storage unit at the Mount Isa waste transfer station. | Contract under development |
| Murweh Shire Council | The project will establish and promote the use of a dedicated battery collection zone at the Charleville Waste Management Facility for batteries including problem batteries. | Contract under development |
| Noosa Shire Council | The project will install five smart safety drums for collection of smaller problem batteries; located at high traffic, publicly accessible Council facilities. The project will also establish two UN-rated battery safety bins for larger and mixed chemistry problem batteries; located at two Waste Transfer Stations. | Contract under development |
| Quilpie Shire Council | The project will establish and promote the use of new safe, accessible battery collection points within a rural setting. | $75,273 |
| Sunshine Coast Regional Council | The project will install permanent fireproof battery collection boxes at four waste facilities to safety manage problem batteries and includes community awareness activities about the new collection points. | $70,354 |
| South Burnett Regional Council (on behalf of Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council and South Burnett Regional Council) | The project will establish and promote the use of 15 new collection points across the South Burnett and Cherbourg regions. | $91,769 |
| Southern Downs Regional Council | The project will provide new lithium-ion battery disposal points at nine transfer stations and install new fire-fighting equipment for lithium-ion battery fires at the nine transfer stations and two additional major waste facilities. The project also includes promotion of the new collection points. | Contract under development |
Toowoomba Regional Council | The project will establish 14 new collection points for problem batteries. Each collection point will have weather and fire-resistant battery drop off bins/enclosures, and first response firefighting equipment suitable for lithium battery fires. Waste Facility personnel will receive training in safe battery handling and first response firefighting of lithium battery fires. | Contract under development |
| Western Downs Regional Council | The project will establish and promote the use of accessible collection points for problem batteries at Waste Management Facilities. Collection points will include weather and fire-resistant drop-off bins/enclosures with firefighting equipment suitable for lithium battery fires. Funding will also support staff training. | Contract under development |