The fire that destroyed Canberra’s recycling plant, the Materials Recovery Facility in Hume, on Boxing Day last year is believed to have been caused by incorrectly disposed batteries, according to ACT Fire & Rescue.

• Fire destroys major recycling centre at Hume (27 December 2022)

ACT Fire & Rescue’s investigation found evidence that lithium batteries in the waste compactor caused the thermal runaway that ignited the fire, Chris Steel, Minister for Transport and City Services, said today.

Lithium is found in many household batteries (such as non-rechargeable AA and AAA batteries), and in rechargeable batteries in devices like laptops, mobile phones, and cameras.

“This is a timely reminder to the community not to put batteries of any kind in your household recycling bin or landfill bin,” Mr Steel said. “Please remember: ‘Don’t bin your batteries’.”

Canberrans can drop off their batteries for free at the hazardous waste area at the Mitchell or Mugga Lane Resource Management Centres.

Batteries can also be recycled for free through the nationwide battery product stewardship scheme, B-cycle, which launched in January 2022. It recycles household batteries and easily removable batteries, including those used in power tools and cameras. There are many drop-off points in the ACT and NSW, including most shopping centres.

The scheme is run by the Battery Stewardship Council (BSC), and is authorised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

“There are hefty fines of up to $800 associated with incorrectly and illegally disposing of all batteries [that] could put workers and our community at risk,” Mr Steel said.

In the wake of the fire, the ACT Government, NSW Government, and NSW regional councils will develop a communications campaign about the safe disposal of batteries at B-cycle drop-off points and other locations.

The loss of the Materials Recovery Facility on the night of Monday, 26 December was “a significant setback for recycling” in the ACT and region, Mr Steel said at the time. It processed 60,000 tonnes of waste (including cardboard, plastic, and glass) every year, and was used by six NSW councils.

Since the fire, the ACT Government has transported the region’s recycling to three facilities in Western Sydney and one in Victoria.

Around 229 tonnes per day is being transported – an average of nine trucks per day.

An estimated additional $1.4 million so far has been required to transport this material. The ACT Government is discussing the recovery of most of these additional costs with its insurers, ACT Insurance Authority.

“The stockpile of recycling material following the fire has now been entirely cleared from Mugga Resource Management Centre,” Mr Steel said.

6,550 tonnes have been recovered, and only 60 tonnes of spoil are being sent to landfill.

“Given the recycling plant was almost completely destroyed by the fire, this recovery rate is an excellent outcome,” Mr Steel said.

He thanked staff for ensuring materials in Canberra’s yellow bins continue to be recycled.

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