Flammable 5
News and Events / News
One battery. One phone. One vape. One flare. One gas bottle.
That is all it can take to start a serious fire.
Every year, an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 battery-related fires occur in Australia’s waste and recycling system.
When batteries and other flammable items are placed in household wheelie bins, they can be crushed or damaged inside rubbish trucks and waste-processing equipment. The resulting fires can put waste workers and the community at risk, damage essential infrastructure and cause major disruption and expense.
The good news is that these fires are preventable.
Never place the Flammable Five in any of your household wheelie bins. Take them to an approved collection point instead.
Don’t bin batteries
Even a small battery can spark a serious fire if it is crushed, punctured or damaged.
Loose household batteries should never be placed in any of your wheelie bins. They can also contain materials that should be recovered rather than sent to landfill.
Before disposal:
- Cover the battery terminals with clear sticky tape.
- Store the batteries in a glass or other fire-resistant container.
- Take them to an accredited battery collection point.
Battery collection points are available at many supermarkets, hardware stores and waste facilities.
Damaged, swollen, leaking or overheating batteries require extra care. Do not use or charge them. Contact your local waste facility for disposal advice before transporting them.
To learn more about lithium-ion batteries visit: Lithium-ion | Tasmania Fire Service
If it has a battery, keep it out of the bin
Old phones, laptops, tablets, power banks, electric toothbrushes, toys, power tools, printers and medical devices can all contain rechargeable batteries.
Even when a device no longer works, its battery may still contain enough energy to ignite if crushed or damaged.
Do not place electronic devices in any of your wheelie bins. Remove the battery when it is safe and practical to do so, or take the complete device to an approved e-waste collection point such as your local waste transfer station.
Vapes contain batteries too
Disposable and rechargeable vapes contain lithium-ion batteries as well as electronic components and chemical residue.
When placed in a household bin, they can be crushed during collection or processing and start a fire.
Do not dismantle, crush or puncture a vape.
Never place a vape in any of your wheelie bins. Keep it intact and take it to an approved collection or disposal point.
Empty doesn’t mean safe
Gas bottles and cylinders can retain flammable gas even when they appear empty.
If they are crushed, compacted or exposed to heat, they can rupture or explode, putting waste workers and the community at risk.
Never place gas bottles in your household bins.
Return refillable bottles through an authorised supplier where possible, or take unwanted and expired cylinders to a waste facility that accepts them.
Expired flares are still dangerous
Marine flares contain highly flammable material and remain dangerous after their expiry date.
They must never be fired for disposal or placed in household rubbish or recycling bins. Incorrectly discarded flares can ignite during collection and disposal, risking serious injury to waste workers.
Take expired marine flares to a participating Council resource recovery facility listed by Marine and Safety Tasmania.
It only takes one simple action to prevent a fire
Before throwing something away, stop and ask:
Does it contain a battery, gas or flammable material?
If the answer is yes, or you are not sure, keep it out of your household bins and check how it should be disposed of.
Frequently asked questions
Can batteries go in the recycling bin?
No. Batteries must not be placed in any of your household bins. Take them to an accredited battery collection point.
Why should I tape battery terminals?
Battery terminals can make contact with other batteries or metal objects, creating a spark. Covering the terminals with clear sticky tape reduces this risk.
Can I remove the battery from an electronic device?
Only remove it when the battery is designed to be removed and it is safe to do so. Do not force open a device, puncture a battery or attempt to remove a swollen or damaged battery to avoid the risk of injury to you.
What should I do with a damaged or swollen battery?
Stop using and charging it. Keep it away from heat, moisture and flammable materials, and contact your local waste facility for disposal instructions. Do not place it in a battery collection bin unless the collection provider confirms it can accept damaged batteries.
Is an empty gas bottle safe to put in the wheelie bin?
No. An apparently empty bottle may still contain residual gas or pressure. Return it to an authorised supplier or an approved waste facility.
Can I take expired flares to a boating club?
Do not assume that every boating club or retailer can accept them. Marine and Safety Tasmania maintains a list of participating municipal waste facilities that provide flare collection.
Where can I dispose of these items?
Use the collection-point finder below or contact your council or local waste facility before attending.
