Crisafulli Government announces plan to help extinguish fires

The Waste and Resource Recovery (WARR) industry has welcomed the Crisafulli Government’s announcement that it will implement a three-point plan to tackle the increasing number of dangerous battery related fires that continue to place the lives of its workers at risk every day.

The plan – announced today by the Hon. Andrew Powell – aims to stop the ‘binning of batteries’ and includes $2 million funding for councils to expand existing battery collection points, as well as actions to inform Queenslanders about safe battery disposal and to work closely with the WARR industry on practical ways to reduce fire risks to protect workers and essential waste services and facilities.

“Our industry, which plays a critical role in managing essential waste, is facing a national crisis,” said Gayle Sloan, CEO of the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR).

“Every day throughout Australia, we are experiencing fires in trucks and facilities caused by batteries and battery-powered products—hazardous items that need to be managed accordingly and do not belong in our waste stream.”

Queensland has had more than 200 battery related fires reported in the last 12 months. However, most people don’t appreciate the significant impact that placing a battery in the bin can have on the safety of WARR workers and the community, or the financial ramifications for the community of fire related damage to essential waste services and facilities.

“A little over two weeks ago, Cairns Council lost an important facility due to a fire, with the cost to replace it estimated at $30 million. This loss will also disrupt services to local businesses and communities as it is made safe and rebuilt. Similar incidents have occurred in the ACT and WA,” said Ms Sloan.

“The ongoing financial and social cost of these products, which have no clear end-of-life pathway, is rapidly increasing and will ultimately be passed on to the community through higher service costs, rate increases, and rising insurance premiums.”

Despite battery fires featuring heavily across the Australian media and plans for national product stewardship for batteries being tabled at the December 2024 National Environment Ministers’ Meeting, there has been a lack of action on the issue at a federal level. WMRR has advocated extensively for a national mandatory regulated scheme for the end-of-life management of batteries. Currently, only the New South Wales government has publicly committed to implementing a regulated scheme.

“The reality is that we are not the manufacturers of these products, but we are the ones dealing with the consequences—both literally and financially,” said Ms Sloan.

“This situation cannot continue. Fires in trucks and facilities have become an everyday reality for our workers and communities. Our workers deserve to go home safely every day, just like those in any other industry.”

WMRR calls for Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, the ACT, and Tasmania to act swiftly and decisively by funding the establishment of collection points for battery-powered products.

“The three-point plan is the type of decisive action Australia needs from its government leaders,” Ms Sloan added. “We urge all states to urgently fund the necessary infrastructure for collection points and launch education campaigns to prevent batteries from entering traditional WARR systems.”

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