Lakes Entrance residents now have more opportunities to safely dispose of batteries and electronic waste, thanks to new collection points funded by the Victorian Government.
The funding, delivered through Sustainability Victoria, will allow East Gippsland Shire Council to install battery and embedded battery collection cabinets at high-traffic community facilities, including locations in Lakes Entrance. Residents will be able to safely drop off loose batteries, vapes, and embedded batteries from items such as toys, electric toothbrushes and other small rechargeable devices.
The initiative aims to reduce hazardous waste going to landfill and lower the risk of fires caused by incorrectly disposed lithium-ion batteries. Fire Rescue Victoria estimates it attends one fire every day caused by rechargeable batteries, highlighting the danger when these items are crushed in garbage or recycling trucks.
Collection cabinets will be installed across the municipality, including sites in Lakes Entrance, Bairnsdale, Paynesville, Orbost, Mallacoota and Omeo, as well as local libraries.
Research shows nearly half of Victorian households with young children still place batteries in general rubbish bins, despite e-waste being banned from landfill since 2019. Improper disposal can ignite fires, leach toxic chemicals into the environment and create costly clean-up operations when fires occur in waste trucks.
“With electronic items being delivered to households over the festive period, from phones and tablets to gaming consoles and small appliances, the risk of incorrect disposal is real,” Fire Rescue Victoria Assistant Chief Fire Officer of Community Resilience Darren McQuade said.
Sustainability Victoria has also launched a campaign to raise awareness about the risks of placing batteries and e-waste in kerbside bins.
“This campaign is about shining a light on embedded batteries in everyday items such as electric toothbrushes, vacuum cleaners, power tools, e-bikes, vapes and portable chargers, and reminding Victorians that batteries and e-waste do not belong in kerbside bins,” chief executive officer Matt Genever said.
Residents can visit Sustainability Victoria’s website to find an interactive map of safe disposal locations and ensure their batteries and electronics are handled responsibly.
