Why batteries can't go in any bin
A punctured or crushed battery inside a garbage truck or recycling sorting facility is a genuine fire risk — lithium-ion batteries in particular can ignite when damaged, and truck and facility fires caused by batteries thrown in the wrong bin are a real, recurring problem for waste operators nationally, not a theoretical one.
Where to take them instead
Australia has a free national battery recycling drop-off scheme (B-cycle) with collection points at many supermarkets, hardware stores, and council offices — batteries dropped off this way are properly sorted and their materials recovered rather than sent to landfill.
Most major supermarket and hardware chains with a presence near you will have a collection point at the front of the store, usually near customer service — it's worth checking next time you're there rather than storing dead batteries indefinitely at home.
What counts as a "battery" here
This covers single-use household batteries (AA, AAA, 9V, button cell), rechargeable batteries, and the batteries inside small electronics you're disposing of separately. Larger batteries — car batteries, power tool battery packs — usually have their own take-back scheme through the retailer or manufacturer rather than the general battery drop-off points.