Corangamite Shire environment co-ordinator Belinda Bennett said there had been several instances of batteries self-combusting in waste at the site and one recent fire that required CFA attendance. 

“While this incident was quickly controlled thanks to the CFA, there is the risk that batteries may cause a major fire at the landfill if a battery combusts on a high fire danger day or when the site is unattended,” she said.

Corangamite Shire has joined with Warrnambool City Council in urging residents to recycle their batteries.

“Lithium batteries are particularly problematic as they are prone to sudden, intense combustion when they come into contact with water or when they are crushed during the waste compaction,” Ms Bennett said.

“Instances of batteries combusting at the landfill are becoming more common with lithium batteries now found in a wide range of household items such as laptops, cameras, and mobiles phones.”

Warrnambool City Council waste management officer Kate McInnes said Warrnambool’s kerbside waste was deposited at the Naroghid Landfill.

“It is important that all batteries are recycled as inappropriate disposal can result in fires or leaching of dangerous chemicals into the environment,” she said.

“We are urging residents of both Corangamite and Warrnambool to drop batteries off for recycling at the Naroghid Landfill Transfer Station near Camperdown, Statewide Recycling at 355 Koroit Street, Battery World in Walsh Road and household batteries to Aldi Supermarket in Warrnambool,” she said.

Electronic items that contain batteries such as laptops and cameras can also be dropped off for recycling at any of Corangamite’s transfer stations and at Western District Employment Access (WDEA) at 11 Albert Street, Warrnambool.