Embedded batteries

Products with in-built batteries, known as "embedded batteries", are increasingly prevalent in our everyday lives. Chances are you might not even be aware of how many embedded batteries are in your home.

Products with embedded batteries are difficult to dispose of or recycle due to the different components and materials they are made of. Batteries should never be disposed of in your kerbside red, yellow or green lid bins as they contain chemical substances that can be harmful to human health and the environment and may catch fire in garbage trucks and waste facilities.

The EPA, in partnership with local councils, accepts products with embedded batteries at selected Community Recycling Centre locations.

Products accepted at participating Community Recycling Centres

Common items you might have at home that contain an embedded battery are:

• Bluetooth speakers and headphones
• electric toothbrushes
• e-scooters, e-bikes and hover boards
• flashing/light up toys like wands or other hard plastic items
• personal care devices such as electric toothbrushes and shavers
• powerpacks and portable charging devices
• remote controlled and ride-on toys
• vacuum cleaners, cordless hand-held and robotic devices
• vapes or e-cigarettes
• wearables such as light-up clothing, smart watches, trackers and medical aids.

If you have an unusual item, please phone your participating Community Recycling Centre to check if it can be accepted.

Many products have removable batteries, so if the batteries can be easily removed, please only bring the loose batteries.

Products not accepted at participating Community Recycling Centres

Products covered under the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS) should be directed to an e-waste collection. Some councils provide this service at their Community Recycling Centre or host a pop-up collection service. This includes e-waste such as televisions, computers, printers, computer parts and peripherals. If you have one of these products and it contains an embedded battery, such as rechargeable gaming controllers and laptops, please drop off at an e-waste collection point. Check with your local council for an event near you.

Mobile phones and associated accessories should be dropped off at your nearest MobileMuster collection point. MobileMuster is the product stewardship scheme for the collection and recycling of old and broken phones, chargers and accessories. These can be recycled at any MobileMuster location.

Oversize items (larger than 20kg) are also not accepted at participating Community Recycling Centre embedded batter sites, except for e-bikes where the battery can't be removed. Check with your Council before taking anything over 20kg or any item that is bulky, requires special delivery and/or requires more than one person from a manual handing perspective.

Free recycling of other batteries

For information on how to recycle all other batteries please visit Safe Battery Recycling 

Participating Community Recycling Centres battery sites

There are now 34 Community Recycling Centres collecting embedded battery products. Each location has varying operating times. It is recommended that you check your local Council’s website or visit epa.nsw.gov.au/cleanout before your trip.