Illawarra Tip Run Battery Bins
Safe, simple, and sustainable battery disposal for every household.
Get Your Bin
Ask us about our Battery Bin Program. We’ll supply your bin at the completion of your next tip run - available to new and existing clients.
Store Batteries
Put your used button batteries, AAA/AA, C/D, and 9V batteries in your battery bin.
Book a Tip Run
Next time you book a tip run with us we’ll empty your battery bin with a 100% guarantee of safe and sustainable disposal.
Get Your Battery Bin Now
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Get Your Battery Bin Now 〰️
Why Safe Disposal Matters
Did you know One AA battery can contaminate 20 litres of water if sent to landfill?
Too often, we see used batteries mixed in with general rubbish—something our team has witnessed firsthand on countless tip runs.
What many people don’t realise is that batteries are not just another piece of waste.
When they end up in landfill, they can leak harmful chemicals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which seep into soil and waterways.
Even more alarming, certain types of batteries can spark and cause dangerous fires during rubbish collection.
When a Battery Sparked a Fire in Shellharbour
On what began as a routine morning in Shellharbour, a recycling truck rolled through the suburbs, collecting yellow bins as usual. But hidden among the cardboard, cans, and bottles was something that didn’t belong: a single discarded battery.
By the time the truck reached its next stop, smoke was already seeping through the load. Inside, the battery had sparked a dangerous chain reaction. Following strict safety procedures, the driver diverted to Myimbarr Community Park in Flinders, where the entire load was dumped into the carpark—away from homes and traffic. Fire crews rushed in to douse the smouldering rubbish before it could become a major blaze.
The cause? Just one small battery, thrown carelessly into a household bin.
Incidents like this aren’t rare. Across Australia, waste trucks and recycling facilities are reporting more and more “hot loads”—fires triggered by batteries mixed in with regular rubbish. These fires put workers at risk, disrupt services, and cost councils and ratepayers thousands of dollars.
But the impact goes beyond fire hazards. Batteries that end up in landfill can leak toxic chemicals like cadmium, mercury, and lead, contaminating soil and groundwater.
For Illawarra Tip Run, the incident was more than just a news story—it was a turning point. After years of seeing batteries thrown into general waste on tip runs, it became clear that households needed a simple, safe alternative.
That’s why Illawarra Tip Run introduced its Battery Bin Program: small, colourful bins designed to help households collect used batteries at home. Each bin is picked up during a scheduled tip run, with all contents guaranteed to be recycled safely.
A Small Habit, A Big Difference
One discarded battery can contaminate 20 litres of water—or set off a fire in a truck. But when collected and recycled properly, that same battery can be broken down into valuable raw materials like zinc and steel, ready to be used again.
Safe disposal isn’t complicated—it just requires a change of habit. And with Battery Bins now available across the Illawarra, every household has the chance to protect their community and environment from hidden hazards.
