NQROC Problem and Embedded Battery Collection
Household Embedded Battery Collection Weekend
Got new gadgets this Christmas? If you can’t reuse your old devices, recycle them safely at our January Embedded Battery Amnesty!
Lithium-ion batteries are found in most devices and can be more dangerous than traditional batteries. Incorrect battery disposal can result in injury, fire hazards and environmental harm.
They should never be disposed of in your household waste or recycling bins.
Whilst some can be easily removed and taken to existing collection points under the B-cycle scheme, others found in common household devices are embedded and cannot be easily removed.
Burdekin Shire Council together with the North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils, is running a Household Embedded Battery Amnesty Weekend to help you safely dispose of these problematic and dangerous household items. There is no charge for disposal of accepted devices.
When: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January 2026
Where:
|
Ayr Transfer Station
|
8:00 am to 12:00 Noon
1:00pm to 4:00pm
|
| Home Hill Transfer Station |
8:00am to 1:00pm
2:00pm to 4:00pm
|
Following the amnesty event, residents can also drop off these items at Council’s waste facilities until 15 November 2026:
| Ayr Transfer Station
7 Days
|
8:00 am to 12:00 Noon
1:00pm to 4:00pm
|
| Home Hill Transfer Station
6 Days - Closed Wednesday's
|
8:00am to 1:00pm
2:00pm to 4:00pm
|
| Kirknie Landfill
|
Mon to Fri - 8:00am to 1:00pm
Sat - 8:00am to 12:00 Noon
|
| Giru Transfer Station |
Fri and Sun - 2:00pm to 5:00pm |
Products accepted as part of the collection scheme:
Common items you might have at home that may contain an embedded battery are:
- Bluetooth speakers and headphones
- Vapes
- Electric toothbrushes
- E-scooters, E-bikes and hoverboards
- Vacuum cleaners (cordless hand-held and robotic)
- Personal care devices (e.g. shavers)
- Flashing, light-up and audio toys (e.g. light-up wands, novelty toys with sound or lights)
- Powerpacks and portable charging devices
- Remote controlled and ride-on toys
- Wearable devices such as smart watches, trackers and medical aids
Do not try to remove the embedded battery from these devices if it is not able to be clicked out by hand. Using tools to remove the battery may cause damage and increase the risk of fire.
Products not accepted as part of the collection scheme:
Items not accepted include
- Oversized items greater than 20kg or of a bulky nature (requiring more than one person to lift).
- Electric Vehicle batteries.
- Household Battery Energy Storage Systems.
- Mobility Scooters.
The Household Embedded Battery Collection will run until 15 November 2026.
Additional event information:
Battery-Amnesty-Weekend-digital-flyer.pdf(PDF, 1MB)
Items covered under other product stewardship schemes should be directed to Council’s existing collection points.
These include:
This project is an initiative of the Resource Recovery Working Group of the North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NQROC).
NQROC is a partnership of five councils — Burdekin, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, and Townsville — working together to build a strong, sustainable North Queensland.
The Household Embedded Battery Collection is proudly funded through the Queensland Government’s Local Government Battery Collection Program.