Most people keep used batteries without thinking twice. They end up in kitchen drawers, toolboxes and random containers. You plan to drop them off one day, but life gets busy. The pile grows and without meaning to, you create both a safety risk and a missed opportunity.
This is the challenge behind battery and e-waste recovery today. The system already exists. Collection points are widespread, and recycling technology is in place. The materials are valuable but what’s missing is awareness.
When people learn how to handle batteries safely, they reduce fire hazards. When they return those batteries, they feed a regenerative cycle that turns waste back into resources. Safety and sustainability share the same starting point: basic, everyday habits.
A panel of leaders from Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR), WCRA, Ecocycle and Draeger Australia unpacked the risks and solutions of batteries & e-waste at ReGen Expo. The risk is sitting in people’s homes. The solution is practical, measurable and ready to scale.
Featured Speaker
Brett Lemin
Featured Speaker
Suzanne Toumbourou
Featured Speaker
Zoltan Sekula
Featured Speaker
Satiesh Muniandy
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Why Battery Storage Habits Matter
Batteries don’t need flame or friction to fail, they need contact. When the terminals on used batteries touch, they can short circuit. A few button cells in a glass jar can heat up fast. In worst cases, they can trigger thermal runaway, which is a chain reaction that can cause smoke, fire or more serious damage.
So, the problem isn’t that people lack containers. The problem is that most people don’t know how risky these small items can be when stored together. This isn’t about high-tech solutions, it’s about basic awareness.
The safest approach is simple: keep batteries separate, tape the terminals and drop them off frequently. You don’t need jars, tins or special organisers, you just need good habits.
E-Waste Infrastructure Is Already in Place
The batteries and e-waste sector isn’t lacking in collection points in Australia. You see them in supermarkets, council collection points and resource recovery centres. The convenience already exists, and the bottleneck isn’t infrastructure, it’s participation.
Deposit schemes may work for bottles and cans because the items are big enough to hold value and people can collect them. But batteries behave differently, they’re small and sensitive to contact. A deposit scheme could push people to store them in bulk at home, but it increases the risk of improper storage.
This is why the industry leaders from this panel argue against deposit schemes. They don’t want an incentive to lead to unsafe behaviour. Proper education on best practices leads to safer behaviour.
Recovery Becomes Regeneration When People Act
Every battery you return becomes a source of new materials. Lithium, nickel, cobalt, steel and copper aren’t just waste; they’re resources that can go back into manufacturing and reduce pressure on mining. That’s regeneration in its most grounded form.
It starts with the simplest possible action: returning the battery.
When people change their behaviour, the benefits are almost doubled:
- Homes become safer.
- Collection programs get more consistent.
- Manufacturers get more recovered material.
- Communities see fewer waste related fires.
Recovery is the action. Regeneration is the outcome.
Battery and E-Waste Education
The biggest risk is not knowing what you don’t know. When people understand the risks, they act differently.
This is why education outperforms policies and new products. Clear, repeated, simple information builds confidence and better habits. And once the habit forms, the system shifts.
What’s the best way to dispose of old batteries?
- Keep batteries separate.
- Tape the terminals.
- Never store them in jars or tins.
- Return them regularly.
- Use the collection points that already exist.
These are small steps resulting in big impact.
A Safer Community and a Stronger Circular System
The public plays a direct role in the safety and recovery system. When people understand that role, the whole chain strengthens.
Industry, government, retailers, recyclers and the public all share the same goal. Safety and regeneration depend on everyone doing their part.
The path forward isn’t complicated. It’s consistent, it’s practical and it’s ready right now.
Your next step and your next opportunity comes from one simple question: how will you handle your next used battery?
Access the Batteries & E-waste session captured live at ReGen 2025
Fill in your details below to access the Batteries & E-waste seminar recording from ReGen Expo 2025