Never the household bin
That includes the recycling bin. Neither stream is built to handle a sealed lithium cell, and both send waste through compaction and sorting machinery that can puncture it.
Where to take used devices
Battery and e-waste drop-off points are widely available across Australia — council transfer stations and resource-recovery centres, B-cycle battery drop-off points in many hardware and retail chains, and dedicated e-waste days run by councils.
Your local council website lists the nearest option, and most metro councils have several within a short drive.
- Council resource-recovery or transfer stations
- B-cycle battery drop-off points in participating retailers
- Council e-waste collection events
- Some vape retailers run take-back bins in store
Storing devices until drop-off
Keep used devices in a single container away from heat and out of reach of children and pets, then take the lot in one trip. Do not attempt to open a device to remove the battery yourself.