Batteries & Co. in waste: New Campaign
‘Not retro at all’: A new information campaign by Holding Graz provides information on the proper disposal of rechargeable batteries, batteries, etc. It also focuses on reducing fire hazards.
From mid-March to mid-April 2026, Holding Graz will launch a comprehensive information campaign throughout the city of Graz under the slogan ‘Dispose of correctly and prevent fires: No lithium batteries in residual waste’. The initiative focuses on the enormous fire hazard posed by incorrectly disposed batteries and at the same time sends a strong signal for more circular economy and resource conservation.
Fire risk from incorrectly disposed batteries on the rise:
Lithium batteries can ignite if damaged or short-circuited, causing fires in refuse collection vehicles, containers or waste facilities. This is also evident in practice: at Holding Graz’s waste treatment plant, fire alarms are triggered several times a week by incorrectly disposed batteries in residual waste.
Studies clearly underline this development:
- Batteries are one of the most common causes of fires in waste management.
- Around 1.4 million lithium batteries were mistakenly disposed of in residual waste in 2019 alone – and the trend is still rising.
- Only a fraction of the population is aware that batteries are found in many everyday items – from flashing shoes and toys to disposable e-cigarettes and devices with built-in batteries.
Young people in particular have little knowledge of proper disposal.
The key message: batteries do not belong in residual waste!
Holding Graz’s new campaign addresses this problem with a clear, memorable statement: “Batteries and rechargeable batteries do not belong in residual waste. Disposing of them properly protects the environment and people – and prevents fires. For safety and environmental protection.” A wide range of communication channels – from print and online to social media, radio, newsletters and advertisements to information flyers and measures at waste collection points – are being used to make the population aware of the risks. The free Graz waste app, which provides comprehensive information on proper separation and collection points, also plays an important role.
Visually, the campaign uses four retro motifs with the slogan ‘Not retro at all: dispose of correctly and prevent fires’ to humorously point out that conscious waste separation is always appropriate.
This is how correct disposal works:
Batteries and rechargeable batteries can be handed in easily, safely and free of charge – for example
- at the Graz Resource Park,
- at hazardous waste collection points (Resource Park, Lendplatz fire station, Maggstraße central collection point),
- at the Giftmüllexpress,
- and at all outlets that sell batteries.
Every battery that is disposed of correctly increases safety in waste facilities, reduces the risk of fire and protects the environment. This is because damaged lithium batteries can release toxic substances. Proper collection keeps harmful substances out of residual waste and allows valuable raw materials – such as nickel, cobalt, lithium, copper and silver – to be recycled and returned to the resource cycle.
