The first in a four-part series focused on the battery fire crisis.
In today’s fast-paced world, technological advancements continuously shape our lives. We are an economy of convenience, rapid innovation, and a high turnover of goods. While this brings new opportunities for collaborative consumption models – such as rental fashion to reduce textile waste – it also means a growing tide of electronic waste. Among these, lithium-ion batteries stand out, not just as a waste issue, but as a pressing public safety concern.
The industry has already seen the consequences of product misuse and the lack of end-to-end accountability, coupled with low-cost and low-quality products flooding Australia.
A lack of consumer awareness about the risks and downstream impacts of these products and their potential harm has seen fires and safety concerns in freight, recreational centres, apartment buildings and waste collections and waste/recycling facilities.
In Australia alone there have been more than 90,000 recalls or safety alerts related to lithium-ion products.
In Victoria, the Victorian Waste Management Association (VWMA), along with members and member councils, is taking the lead.
While private companies and local councils have made strides, a piecemeal approach simply isn’t enough to manage the lithium fire crisis. We need a coordinated, strategic effort that involves not just the waste and recycling sector, but everyone from construction firms to schools, hospitals, and government agencies.
A critical forum hosted by waste and resource recovery company the Calleja Group, and supported by VWMA, will be held from 8.30am to 3pm on Tuesday, 17 February at the RACV Club (Bourke Street), Melbourne.
Experts from across industries will share perspectives and collaborate on real, actionable solutions to create a safer future.
This is an issue the sector must tackle together.
Find more event details here
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