The waste and recycling industry says it's fighting up to 12,000 fires a year caused by discarded lithium-ion batteries and has warned that consumers will ultimately pay for the crisis without change.

State and territory Environment Ministers will meet with federal counterpart Tanya Plibersek on Friday to discuss better battery management.

Ahead of the meeting, the waste and recycling sector has issued an urgent call for more safe drop-off points for batteries — which cannot be safely managed in general waste streams.

The Waste Recycling Industry Association Queensland (WRIQ) has announced ENCAPS as the overall winner of the 2025 Lithium Battery Innovation Challenge, recognising its outstanding contribution to factory safety, fire prevention with F-500 EA technology, and resource recovery within Queensland's waste and recycling industry.

Laptop left charging on bed causes house fire in Bendigo

Lithium-ion batteries are causing more than 10,000 fires a year in Australia. Waste chiefs say an 'urgent' management plan is needed.
By Emily Baker, ABC News

9NEWS: Home damaged after suspected electric vehicle fire.

NSW Government inquest to examine deaths and serious fires caused by Lithium-ion batteries.

The Guardian: ‘Fastest-growing fire risk’: why do lithium batteries keep exploding across Australia?