Battery waste codes Spent lead-acid, nickel-cadmium & nickel-metal hydride cells.

Which waste code covers lead-acid and other batteries?

Victoria's battery guideline gives D220 to lead-acid batteries, D150 to nickel-cadmium batteries and T300 to most other batteries. Western Australia has battery-specific entries, including D221 for used lead-acid batteries. The number depends on the state.

What exemptions and special routes do batteries have in each state?

Victoria. The used lead-acid battery (ULAB) general designation makes qualifying transport priority waste, without reportable priority waste duties. Combined electrolyte must be under 1,000 litres or, if unknown, the load under 4 tonnes. Packing, separation, leak and short-circuit conditions all apply. Storage has its own limits. Up to 5 m³ can be industrial waste. Below 10,000 litres of electrolyte or, if unknown, below 40 tonnes can be non-reportable priority waste, with storage and record conditions. Nickel-cadmium batteries don't get this ULAB exemption.

New South Wales. Lead-acid batteries use the lead and lead-compound entry D220 for interstate tracking, subject to the trackability test. NSW EPA requires tracking between NSW and another state or territory. Transport licensing applies to loads over 200 kg. Household batteries can go through the approved Community Recycling Centre route.

Queensland. Batteries typically used in small electronic or handheld devices are excluded under Schedule 9 Part 3 Division 1 item 9. That doesn't exclude every industrial or automotive battery.

South Australia. Household NiCad, lithium and mercury batteries, including products with embedded batteries, are accepted at South Australia's household chemical depots.

Western Australia. DWER's driver guidance says no controlled-waste tracking form is currently needed for used nickel-cadmium (D151), nickel-metal-hydride (D211) or lead-acid (D221) batteries. That is a tracking-form route only. Packaging, dangerous-goods and lawful receiving duties still apply. Other battery types and loose metal or acid residues need their own assessment.

Northern Territory. Don't put household batteries in a normal bin. In Darwin, Shoal Bay accepts ordinary household and car batteries. It doesn't accept commercial battery waste, embedded batteries, batteries over 5 kg, home systems, or EV and hybrid batteries.

Shared classification and movement limits for battery waste are on the Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory pages.