5 December 2025
Southern Downs Regional Council has been successful in its bid for funding to support safer battery disposal in the community.
Council is one of fourteen across Queensland to share in more than $1 million in grants under the Queensland Government’s Local Government Battery Collection Program.
Southern Downs’ project will see lithium-ion battery disposal facilities expanded at nine supervised transfer stations and the Warwick and Stanthorpe waste management facilities. New firefighting equipment will also be installed, alongside a community education campaign about the risks of lithium batteries and comprehensive refresher staff training to ensure hazardous materials are handled safely.
Council’s spokesperson for Healthy Communities Cr Sarah Deane said the program will give two-fold to the community by providing residents safe, convenient and practical options to dispose of end of life batteries as well as enhancing the region’s recycling sustainability and diverting unnecessary waste from landfill.
“Nationally, the waste and recycling industry experiences an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 battery-related fires annually,” Cr Deane said.
“This investment comes at a critical time, as the region has already faced three near-miss incidents involving battery-related fires this year.
“Our priority is keeping our community safe, and by expanding lithium-ion battery disposal points and installing specialised firefighting equipment, we’re reducing the risk of dangerous fires before they happen.
“This funding means that Southern Downs households will have practical, convenient options to dispose of end of life batteries responsibly as well as preventing hazardous materials from ending up in landfill and supporting a cleaner, more sustainable future for the Southern Downs.
“Every battery safely collected is one less risk to our environment. This program helps us reduce waste, recover valuable materials, and protect our community for generations to come.”
The program targets batteries with limited disposal options, including lithium-ion batteries found in vapes, e-scooters, laptops, phones, power tools, children’s toys and common household items like electric toothbrushes and cordless vacuums.
The statewide investment will deliver 88 permanent battery collection points, three mobile collection services, and 28 temporary pop up locations.
This project is proudly supported through the Queensland Government’s Local Government Battery Collection Program.
Download the free Recycle Mate App to search for battery disposal locations. The app is compatible for both Apple and Android devices. Visit
https://www.sdrc.qld.gov.au/living-here/environment-water-waste/waste-recycling/recycle-mate for more information.
Last edited date 05 Dec 2025