Lithium-ion batteries are found in most devices and can be more dangerous than traditional batteries. Incorrect battery disposal can result in injury, fire hazards and environmental harm.
They should never be disposed of in your household waste or recycling bins.
Whilst some can be easily removed and taken to existing collection points under the B-cycle scheme, others found in common household devices are embedded and cannot be easily removed.
Council together with the North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils, is running a Household Embedded Battery Amnesty Weekend to help you safely dispose of these problematic and dangerous household items. There is no charge for disposal of accepted devices.
Help keep our community safe and bring along your old household items containing embedded batteries to our Household Embedded Battery Amnesty Weekend, at no charge.
When: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January 2026
Where:
Stuart Waste Facility
Hervey Range Resource Recovery Centre
Magnetic Island Transfer Station
Following the amnesty event, residents can also drop off these items at Council’s waste facilities until 15 November 2026:
Stuart Waste Facility
Stuart Waste Facility is a landfill and transfer station. This is our largest waste facility, it can accept most residential and commercial waste and reusable or recyclable resources.
Location
24 Vantassel Street, Stuart (map).
Opening HoursMonday to Sunday: 6:30am to 5:45pm.Regulated Waste accepted between 7:30am and 4:30pm. For large loads please contact Resource Recovery 13 48 10.The tip shop is currently closed indefinitely.Items Accepted at Stuart Waste Facility
Free to recycle (for domestic customers):
air conditionerscar batteries (lead-acid batteries)clean cardboard and metalselectronic waste (up to 20 pieces) 3fluorescent light tubesgas bottles (up to 9kg)green waste (lawn clippings, fern fronds, branches etc.)household batteries and vapes 4household recyclables (yellow bin) 6used motor oil (up to 20L)white goods.
Charges apply for general waste, solar panels, tyres, mattresses and asbestos 1.
Items Not Accepted at Stuart Waste Facilitychemical waste 2flares, explosives, or combustible materials 2liquids and solvents 2paint. 5
Hervey Range Resource Recovery Centre
The Hervey Range Resource Recovery Centre can only accept small domestic and commercial loads as all waste must be able to fit inside compactor bins for transport to our landfill at Stuart Waste Facility.
Location
811 Hervey Range Road, Alice River (map).
Resource Recovery Opening HoursMonday to Sunday: 7am to 4:45pm.Closed to the public on Good Friday and Christmas Day.Items Accepted at Hervey Range Resource Recovery Centre
Free to recycle (for domestic customers):
air conditionerscar batteries (lead-acid batteries)clean cardboard and metalselectronic waste (up to 20 pieces) 3fluorescent light tubesgas bottles (up to 9kg)green wastehousehold batteries and vapes 4household recyclables (yellow bin) 6paint (up to 100L) 5polystyreneused motor oil (up to 20L)white goods.
Charges apply for general waste, solar panels, tyres, and mattresses.
Items Not Accepted at Hervey Range Resource Recovery Centreasbestos 1asphaltchemical waste 2combination turf, tree roots and soilcommercial and industrial (C&I) over 4.5t GVMconcretedead animalsflares, explosives or combustible materials 2large loads or lengths of timber over 1mlarge or bulky itemsliquids and solvents 2mixed construction and demolition (C&D)palletsregulated waste.
Magnetic Island Transfer Station
Magnetic Island Transfer Station is a transfer station and tip shop. Most domestic and commercial waste and reusable or recyclable resources are accepted.
Location
65-73 West Point Road, Picnic Bay (map).
Opening HoursMonday, Wednesday, and Friday: 7am to 3:45pmSaturday and Sunday: 9am to 12noonLast vehicle through at 11:45am.Closed to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Good Friday and Christmas Day.Items Accepted at Magnetic Island Transfer Station
Free to recycle (for domestic customers):
air conditioners and fluorescent light tubescar batteries (lead-acid batteries)clean metalsgas bottles (up to 9kg)green wasteelectronic waste (up to 20 pieces) 3household recyclables (yellow bin) 6reusable items for the tip shopused motor oil (up to 20L)white goods.
Charges apply for general waste, tyres, and mattresses.
Items Not Accepted at Magnetic Island Transfer Stationasphaltbatteries (other than car batteries) and vapes 4chemical waste 2concreteflares, explosives or combustible materialsliquids and solvents 2 paint. 5
Products accepted as part of the collection scheme:
Common items you might have at home that may contain an embedded battery are:
Bluetooth speakers and headphonesVapesElectric toothbrushesE-scooters, E-bikes and hoverboardsVacuum cleaners (cordless hand-held and robotic)Personal care devices (e.g. shavers)Flashing, light-up and audio toys (e.g. light-up wands, novelty toys with sound or lights)Powerpacks and portable charging devicesRemote controlled and ride-on toysWearable devices such as smart watches, trackers and medical aids
Do not try to remove the embedded battery from these devices if it is not able to be clicked out by hand. Using tools to remove the battery may cause damage and increase the risk of fire.
Products not accepted as part of the collection scheme:
Items not accepted or covered under other product stewardship schemes should be directed to Council’s existing collection points.
These include:
Televisions, computers, printers, computer parts and peripherals collected via the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.Mobile phones and associated accessories collected via Mobile Muster collection points.Loose batteries up to 5kg collected under the B-cycle scheme.Oversized items greater than 20kg or of a bulky nature (requiring more than one person to lift).Electric Vehicle batteries.Household Battery Energy Storage Systems.Mobility Scooters.
The Household Embedded Battery Collection is proudly funded through the Queensland Government’s Local Government Battery Collection Program.