New Trial for Safe Disposal of Embedded Batteries, Including Vapes, Launches in Lismore

The Lismore Community Recycling Centre is participating in a new NSW Government trial designed to help households safely dispose of embedded batteries commonly found in wireless products such as light-up toys, single-use vapes, and other electronics. The initiative, led by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) in collaboration with Lismore City Council, aims to reduce the number of these problematic products ending up in landfills and mitigate fire hazards caused by battery disposal in household bins.

As part of the trial, the Lismore Community Recycling Centre on Wyrallah Road is now accepting embedded battery products from households and small businesses free of charge. This new service will help the community safely dispose of products with built-in batteries that cannot be easily removed, such as:

• Single-use vapes
• Electric toothbrushes
• E-bikes
• Smart watches
• Portable speakers
• Vacuums

Embedded batteries, often made of lithium-ion, pose unique challenges for waste management due to their difficulty to recycle and their potential to cause fires. In 2023, the number of lithium-ion battery-related fires in NSW surged to 285, more than double the previous year.

Dedicated Bins Now Available

Lismore is one of 21 community recycling centres across NSW taking part in this EPA-led trial, which includes dedicated bins specifically for embedded battery products. E-waste items such as laptops, gaming controllers, and tablets should still be directed to Lismore Council’s e-waste collection service.

The trial is active and will run until September 2026. More information can be found on the NSW EPA website at: NSW EPA Embedded Batteries.

Community and Environmental Benefits

Janelle Saffin MP, Member for Lismore, praised the initiative, saying: “This trial is a much-needed initiative that will help protect our local community and environment by reducing the number of embedded-battery products that are mistakenly disposed of in yellow and red kerbside bins. We hope Lismore residents will learn more about these products, the risks they pose, and the importance of correct disposal.”

Penny Sharpe, Minister for the Environment, also highlighted the importance of the trial: “We want to make it easier for people to do the right thing with embedded batteries, to help prevent fires in bins, rubbish trucks, and waste facilities, while reducing what goes to landfill. The majority of embedded battery products, including disposable vapes, end up in rubbish bins where they pose significant risks. This trial will help mitigate those hazards and increase recycling efforts.”

The trial represents a significant step towards a safer and more sustainable approach to managing hazardous materials in NSW.

Saffin urges residents to prepare for storm season

Member for Lismore, and Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery, Janelle Saffin is urging residents of the Lismore electorate to prepare for the increased risk of storms as the storm season officially begins.

“The period between September and April is when storms, strong winds and heavy rain tend to be more frequent and the Bureau of Meteorology has indicated an increased risk of extreme storms, at least for the start of the season.

“Over recent weeks NSW has already been battered by windy conditions with 1200 volunteers responding to more than 2000 events.

“Storm activity can be checked using the Hazards Near Me app, alongside existing flood and fire alerts.

To prepare for storms, residents are advised to:

• Secure loose items outside, trim trees and branches away from properties, clean your gutters and move your cars from underneath trees.
• If you are caught out in a storm, seek shelter indoors. Do not shelter under trees and stay away from powerlines.
• Prepare an emergency plan for storms and floods.
• Download the Hazards Near Me app and set your watch zones.
• If you need assistance from the NSW SES, call 132 500. If it’s an emergency, call Triple 0.

For more information on how to get ready ahead of this year’s storm season, visit here.

“This is the time of year when we keep a watch on weather warnings to see when and where the storm activity is happening, and doing what we need to stay safe like deciding when it is safe to drive home from work.

“I would like to thank our hardworking SES volunteers for all they do to support our communities over the course of the storm season.

“We can help them by having our homes prepared for storms and staying informed of the severe weather warnings.”

For more local Lismore news, click here.

New Koala Fence to Reduce Road Deaths in Lismore Area

Robert  Heyward

Lismore City Council has appointed Ecoteam to manage the installation of a koala exclusion fence on the corner of Tatham Road and the Bruxner Highway at Tatham. This project aims to reduce the number of koala deaths and injuries in a known roadkill hotspot, approximately 12 km west of Lismore.

The key components of the project include:

• 1.5km of fencing along both sides of the Bruxner Highway, starting at Pelican Creek Bridge and extending 120m along Tatham Road.
• A safe crossing point under Pelican Creek Bridge and the installation of fauna escape structures.
• Koala grids (similar to cattle grids) across three driveways to prevent koalas from entering roads.

Jack Herington, Council’s Environmental Strategies Officer, explained that the fencing will guide koalas away from dangerous traffic areas towards safe crossing points, and the installation of one-way escape poles will help any koalas that may accidentally enter the road area.

The project, which faced delays due to the 2022 natural disaster and logistical challenges, was strongly supported by the community during public consultation and is expected to be completed in the second half of next year, pending weather conditions.

The initiative is a collaboration between Lismore City Council, Friends of the Koala, Transport for NSW, and the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), with funding from DCCEEW to help protect the local koala population.

For more local Lismore news, click here.