We use lithium-ion batteries
Although you may not realise it, we use lithium-ion batteries frequently in our day-to-day lives. In fact, lithium-ion batteries are found in a wide range of modern devices, including phones, tablets, laptops, computers, power banks, chargers, toys, appliances, power tools, electric toothbrushes, vaping devices, and electric bikes and scooters.
A common misconception that many people have is that these devices can be thrown out with the rest of their rubbish. However, what a lot of people do not realise is that lithium-ion batteries (and other types of batteries) can actually catch fire if they are crushed, punctured, or damaged – all of which can happen during the waste collection, transportation, and handling process. This means that lithium-ion batteries that are not disposed of properly can end up causing fires in bins, rubbish trucks, waste and recycling centres, and in landfill. In fact, around 12,000 fires are reported to be caused a year in Australia as a result of discarded lithium-ion batteries.
We use lithium-ion batteries in many aspects of everyday life. They are found in phones, tablets, laptops, power banks, chargers, toys, appliances, power tools, electric toothbrushes, vaping devices, e-bikes, and e-scooters.
A common misconception is that these batteries can be disposed of with general rubbish or recycling. However, lithium-ion batteries can ignite if crushed, punctured, overheated, or damaged during collection, transport, or processing. As a result, incorrectly disposed batteries continue to cause fires in bins, rubbish trucks, recycling facilities, and landfill sites across Australia. It is estimated that thousands of fires each year are linked to discarded lithium-ion batteries.
To reduce these risks, dedicated battery disposal bins and collection points are becoming more common across the world. Despite this, many batteries still end up in general waste streams due to lack of awareness or limited access to suitable disposal facilities. This continues to create significant fire risks for the waste and recycling industry.
For this reason, many responsible waste and recycling operators are implementing dedicated emergency response plans and investing in specialised fire detection and suppression technologies. Solutions such as thermal imaging cameras and flame detection systems can provide early warning of overheating batteries or fire events in challenging environments. While traditional firefighting equipment such as extinguishers, hose reels, and hydrant systems remain important, lithium-ion battery fires can behave differently to conventional fires and may experience thermal runaway or reignition.
Lithium-ion battery fires can burn intensely, spread rapidly, and release toxic gases. Early intervention and cooling are critical in helping control these incidents. As a result, many facilities are now adopting specialised cooling agents and suppression technologies designed to assist with temperature reduction, heat absorption, vapour suppression, and fire control during lithium-ion battery fire events. These solutions are available in portable extinguishers, mobile units, induction systems, and fixed suppression setups suitable for industrial and waste management applications.
Modern cooling-agent technologies are designed to assist in cooling, controlling, and suppressing lithium-ion battery fires while also helping to reduce the risk of reignition. Many of these systems have undergone third-party testing internationally and are increasingly being adopted across industries handling battery storage, charging, recycling, and transport operations.
In addition to portable and mobile firefighting equipment, a range of complementary technologies are available to help mitigate lithium-ion battery fire risks. These include thermal and AI-assisted CCTV fire detection cameras, hydrant induction systems, and hose reel induction systems capable of introducing specialised cooling agents into existing firefighting infrastructure.
Early fire detection remains critical in minimising damage and improving emergency response times. Advanced thermal and AI-based fire detection cameras can identify heat anomalies and potential fire events within seconds, providing real-time alerts while reducing false alarms. These technologies are particularly valuable in high-risk environments such as recycling facilities, battery charging rooms, warehouses, and waste transfer stations.