The Minns Labor Government is responding to the rise in battery-related fires with nation-leading battery regulation and the expansion of a major public safety campaign to keep dangerous batteries out of household bins.
The new laws, which recently passed Parliament, cement NSW as the first state in Australia to implement a mandatory regulation for batteries, requiring brand owners to take responsibility for their products.
They aim to reduce the growing risk of fires by ensuring batteries are safely collected, processed and recycled when they reach the end of life.
In 2025, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) recorded 332 lithium-ion battery-related incidents. So far in 2026, there have been 62 battery fires in the community and at least 12 in garbage trucks, waste facilities and rubbish tips, with a further 103 waste industry fires suspected to involve batteries.
These fires are often sparked by lithium-ion batteries that were crushed, damaged, mishandled or incorrectly discarded in household waste.
The regulation applies to small and removable batteries under five kilograms, including AA, AAA, power banks and batteries used in e-bikes and e-scooters.
Finalising the changes enables the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to establish a mandatory product stewardship scheme, requiring battery brand owners to fund safe collection and disposal.
Key measures under the reforms will include:
- Dedicated battery drop-off points for the community.
- Public education to improve awareness of battery fire risks.
- Annual reporting on the number and types of batteries supplied in NSW.
- Improved transparency about types of batteries collected and the scheme's performance.
The regulation is expected to commence on 1 October 2026, giving industry certainty while allowing the EPA to urgently address this serious problem.
Battery suppliers who fail to comply could face penalties of up to $880,000.
To help prevent fires, the EPA's Never Bin a Battery campaign encourages households to use free drop-off points instead of putting old or damaged batteries in household rubbish.
To power up the campaign, the EPA is partnering with FRNSW to take the Never Bin a Battery message directly to communities at major public events across the state.
The collaboration will see campaign assets featured on fire trucks, at public displays and at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, which is visited by more than 800,000 people each year.
FRNSW is adding Never Bin a Battery decals to 25 fire trucks across the five regions with the highest number of lithium-ion battery fires, to raise awareness about the dangers of incorrectly disposing of household batteries. The targeted areas are the City of Sydney, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Blacktown and Central Coast local government areas.
Acting Premier Prue Car said:
"All too often, products are designed with no consideration for what happens when they reach the end of their life, and batteries are a clear example of the consequences.
"The Minns Labor Government has moved to ensure manufacturers and retailers take some responsibility for where these products end up.
"Our government has introduced sensible laws to drive behavioural change and ensure battery technology is used responsibly throughout its lifespan."
Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe said:
"Too many of the battery related fires we're seeing are preventable. These reforms are about stopping them before they start.
"These new laws and our campaign are about protecting households, workers and communities while building a safer, more circular economy for NSW.
"We want to see battery suppliers take greater responsibility for the safe collection and recycling of their products. We're giving industry time to be able to implement these changes, which is why the public awareness campaign is so important."
Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib said:
"Battery fires can burn hotter, spread quickly and put firefighters, waste workers and the public in danger.
"The safest thing people can do is keep batteries out of household bins and dispose of them properly.
"I encourage everyone visiting the Royal Easter Show to come and see the Fire and Rescue NSW display and learn how to safely store, charge and dispose of batteries at home."
Member for Parramatta, Donna Davis said:
"We are seeing more fires in garbage trucks and recycling facilities because batteries are ending up where they should never be.
"These new laws mean battery suppliers will help fund the safe collection and recycling system NSW needs, while our Never Bin a Battery campaign makes sure people know how to do the right thing.
"One battery in the wrong bin can start a fire, but one battery recycled properly can prevent it."
Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner, Jeremy Fewtrell said:
"Fires caused by faulty or damaged lithium-ion batteries burn much more fiercely than regular fires.
"The heat inside a compromised cell grows until it expels a toxic cloud of flammable gas that can explode in flames inside your home, or in a garbage truck.
"Help us reduce the danger by disposing of your batteries responsibly."
