Batteries can create significant fire and environmental risks when placed in household waste or recycling bins. Retailers are well placed to help customers find appropriate disposal options, but safe battery recovery involves much more than simply placing a collection bin in-store.
The Australian Retail Council (ARC) has completed the Queensland Retail End-of-Life Battery Recovery Program, examining whether retail environments can safely and practically support expanded battery collection and recovery.
The program:
• considered three retail battery collection models
• tested an approach at a regional retail store
• engaged more than 920 stores across 145 retail precincts and shopping centres
• reached more than 6,000 retailers nationally
• consulted 54 stakeholders across industry, government and supply chains
• developed factsheets, posters and customer materials supporting safe battery disposal.
The findings show that retailers are generally willing to support battery recovery for batteries they sell and understand. However, collecting every type of battery at every retail store is not currently safe or practical.
Retail participation depends on the battery type, site conditions, staff processes, insurance and liability coverage, funding, and the availability of safe transport and processing pathways. Damaged, unknown, embedded, e-mobility and large-format batteries may require specialist handling rather than general retail collection.
The program recommends a staged, risk-based approach supported by clear acceptance and exclusion criteria, specialist referral pathways, sustainable funding and coordinated responsibilities across the recovery system.
These findings are particularly timely following the release of Less Landfill, More Recycling 2035: Queensland Waste Strategy. The strategy identifies batteries and e-waste as priority waste streams and aims to achieve an overall recycling rate of 65 per cent by 2035.
Retailers can continue to help by educating staff and customers, promoting safe disposal and directing customers to services such as Recycle Mate.
This program was proudly funded by the Queensland Government’s Recycling and Jobs Fund and delivered by the Australian Retail Council.
About us: Australian Retail Council (ARC) represents a $444 billion sector that employs 1.4 million Australians across metropolitan, regional, and remote communities – making retail the largest private sector employer in the country and a significant contributor to the Australian economy. Our membership spans the full spectrum of Australian retail, from family-owned small and independent retailers that make up 95% of our membership, through to our largest national and international retailers that employ thousands of Australians and support both metropolitan and regional communities every day.
