IKON Leads Groundbreaking CRC-P Project to Combat Lithium Battery Fires in Waste Collection
IKON Waste Solutions is proud to be leading a successful Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) Round 18 project tackling one of the waste sector’s most urgent and dangerous challenges, lithium battery fires.
Backed by the Australian Government and approved by the Hon. Tim Ayres MP, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, this project recognises both the scale of the risk and the need for practical, industry-led solutions.
Battery fires aren’t hypothetical, they’re happening every day in waste trucks and facilities across Australia. Items as common as phone batteries, laptops, e-scooters, power tools and even button batteries can end up in general waste streams, creating serious risks for drivers, operators and the community.
Our “Hot Loads” project is focused on solving this problem where it actually occurs: inside waste collection vehicles. Working alongside RMIT University and a strong national consortium, we’ll develop and trial advanced multi-sensor detection and early intervention technology designed to identify and suppress fires before they escalate.
This is about improving safety for our drivers and community, protecting critical infrastructure, and strengthening the resilience of Australia’s waste and resource recovery systems.
“We’re proud to lead a project that reflects IKON’s commitment to collaboration under our ESG strategy – partnering across industry and research to deliver safer operations, stronger resource recovery outcomes, and real impact for the communities we serve.”
– Greg Tahan, CEO, IKON Waste Solutions
We are leading this work in collaboration with KAI-2 (A Sebstainable Company), RMIT University, City of Melbourne, Maribyrnong City Council, LCS Equipment Group, Sumo Ecotech, Superior Pak, and Victorian Waste Management Association (VWMA).
IKON’s Nick Walker was pleased to brief delegates on the project at the recent Victorian Waste Management Association Conference, where the management of lithium-ion batteries and the risks they present across the waste and resource recovery sector were prominent topics of discussion throughout the two-day event.
