NSW has opened community and industry feedback on new rules to make battery handling and disposal safer.
The regulations aim to make battery brand owners responsible for the safety and environmental impact of their products. Batteries under five kilograms, including those used in e-bikes and e-scooters, will be covered.
Companies would need to join a product stewardship scheme. Fees from products will fund safer disposal and handling processes. The rules include keeping batteries out of landfill, setting up collection points, running public awareness campaigns, and reporting the number of batteries sold in NSW.
Battery brand owners who fail to follow the rules could face fines up to $880,000. The regulations are designed to reduce battery-related fires, which have numbered 241 so far this year in NSW.
Public consultation is open until 14 November 2025. More information is available at https://yoursay.epa.nsw.gov.au/draft-product-lifecycle-responsibility-regulation.