Omnii Pty ltd

Basic Information

Applicant Type: Organisation

Organisation Name: Omnii Pty ltd

Main Questions

Problem Solution

Improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries represent one of Queensland’s most urgent and costly waste management challenges. In 2023 alone, over 12,000 fire incidents across Australia were linked to end-of-life batteries, with each event costing an average of $417, 548. Approximately 7% of these incidents resulted in injury to workers or emergency responders. These fires often occur when batteries are unknowingly compacted in garbage trucks or damaged during handling, triggering thermal runaway. This process causes the battery to rapidly heat up, leading to ignition or explosion. The consequences of lithium-ion battery fires include infrastructure damage, operational shutdowns, increased insurance claims and heightened regulatory risk.

Despite increasing public awareness campaigns, a significant proportion of handheld and household batteries continue to be discarded in kerbside bins. This stems from a combination of poor labelling and the general invisibility of batteries in common items such as toys, power tools, remote controls, and even greeting cards. Many consumers are unaware that these everyday objects contain lithium-ion or rechargeable batteries, and therefore unknowingly dispose of them as general waste. As battery-powered devices become more embedded in daily life, the volume of battery waste is accelerating.

The fire risk is severe in waste collection systems. When lithium-ion batteries are compacted inside garbage trucks, they short-circuit, triggering a thermal runaway event. Fires often start without warning and spread through the surrounding waste, endangering drivers life safety, vehicles, and nearby property. These incidents disrupt operations, require emergency response, and impose significant financial and environmental costs on councils and waste contractors.

Queensland has made progress through initiatives such as B-Cycle, Recycle Mate, and RACQ’s battery recycling program. For example, B-Cycle has collected nearly 2,934,533 kilograms of batteries for recycling, and RACQ recycled over 156,950 car batteries in FY 2023with an 86% material recovery rate. However, these programs each have limitations: B-Cycle depends on voluntary retail participation, Recycle Mate relies on app engagement and accurate council data, and RACQ’s program excludes common household lithium-ion batteries. Most importantly, none offer a direct financial incentive to the public.

Omnii’s Proposed Solution
A potential solution could be to expand the existing Containers for Change (C4C) refund scheme to include household battery recycling, small refund incentive per battery. As of early February 2023, Queenslanders had returned over six billion drink containers through the C4C scheme since its launch in November 2018. By embedding battery returns into this trusted system, Queensland could close critical gaps in convenience, consistency, and motivation. This integration would reduce the number of batteries entering general waste, help prevent costly fires, and support a safer, more sustainable circular economy.

This submission is a proposed concept idea supported by basic research, presented from the perspective of a specialist fire consultancy firm. Omnii is not initiating or participating in any pilot program or formal proposal. As a fire consultancy firm, Omnii supports this concept based on the significant safety implications of lithium-ion battery fires. Omnii presents this research-driven idea to demonstrate how existing infrastructure could be adapted to address a growing waste and fire safety

Impact

This proposal explores how integrating household battery returns into Queensland’s Containers for Change (C4C) network could mitigate battery fire risk and improve recovery rates. By using the state’s 354 C4C sites, batteries can be diverted from kerbside bins, where they often cause fires through thermal runaway when compacted.

Battery-related fires cost the industry an average of $417,548 per incident, with up to 12,000 incidents occurring annually. These fires endanger workers, damage infrastructure, and inflate operational costs. Diverting batteries from general waste into a controlled collection stream would significantly reduce these risks.

Batteries also contain valuable resources like lithium and cobalt. Yet only 10% of used batteries are currently recycled in Australia. Integrating battery returns into an existing, high-participation scheme like C4C could boost recovery rates and support the circular economy.

Companies like Envirostream and Close the Loop are already expanding battery processing capacity. Introducing a battery stream into C4C would deliver a cleaner, consistent input, aligning with current industry developments and national stewardship goals.

A small refund per battery, modelled on drink container incentives, could encourage public participation. This approach aligns with the B-cycle program led by the Battery Stewardship Council, which has national government backing and ACCC authorisation.

This idea is presented solely for consideration. Omnii is not piloting or commercialising this concept but offers it based on its experience in fire risk management for hazardous waste and energy systems.

Business Model

Business Model Overview

This concept proposes integrating battery recycling into Queensland’s C4C system using existing public infrastructure. Omnii is not implementing this model but provides a technical assessment of its feasibility and scalability.

Implementation Cost Structure

Estimates for program rollout are informed by indicative supplier specifications and existing infrastructure models. Fire-resistant, lockable battery collection bins manufactured by Ecobatt, are already used in supermarkets and community hubs across Australia. Operational and logistical processes could draw from existing practices in national programs like MobileMuster and Ecocycle.

While specific dollar amounts vary and are not publicly disclosed, overall site costs are expected to align with operational benchmarks from comparable recovery schemes. Collection, signage, transport, and processing would reflect the economies of scale seen across state-led waste programs, minimising the need for major new infrastructure.

Financial Sustainability and Revenue Streams

A proposed small refund incentive per battery could be explored as a behavioural incentive, mirroring the success of the existing drink container scheme. Potential funding could draw on surplus C4C operational reserves, B-cycle industry contributions under Australia’s battery stewardship framework, and the Queensland Government’s Recycling and Jobs Fund.

Rather than serving as a revenue-generating initiative, the model focuses on cost avoidance. Battery-related fires in waste and recycling facilities present major risks to worker safety, and infrastructure. The Waste & Recycling Industry Queensland (WRIQ) and related associations have highlighted battery fires as a key threat to operational continuity.

Recovered materials, including lithium, cobalt, and nickel, offer an additional sustainability benefit. According to the CSIRO, only 10% of lithium-ion battery waste was recycled in Australia as of 2021, compared with 99% for lead-acid batteries, even though up to 95% of battery components can be recovered and repurposed. The agency also notes that current national recycling capacity remains limited, resulting in growing volumes of end-of-life batteries being stockpiled in warehouses and scrap yards. This accumulation presents serious fire risks and environmental concerns, further underscoring the need for scalable recovery systems. Incorporating battery recovery into an existing public system reinforces circular economy principles, reducing reliance on raw material extraction while promoting end-of-life resource value.

Organisational Role and Expertise

This is a conceptual submission by Omnii, a fire consultancy firm with expertise in high-risk environments such as Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure, and hazardous waste facilities. No pilot has been initiated, and Omnii is not formally affiliated with any recycling vendor or agency mentioned herein.

Relevant project engagements include:

- SAFT Battery Storage Upgrades – Weipa QLD
- Morwell Renewable Energy Hub – VIC
- Amazon Compactor Fire – multiple sites in Australia
- EV Charging Safety – Ryman Retirement Village – VIC
- 720 Bourke Street EV Risk Mitigation – VIC

Omnii’s engineering team has delivered across sectors including mining, petroleum, power generation, and renewables. (See attached capability statements.)

Rollout Structure and Scalability

If pursued by the appropriate body, a phased implementation could be structured as follows:

Pilot Phase (3-6 months)
- Trial Sites: Brisbane (urban), Toowoomba (regional), Mount Isa (remote)
- Objectives: Collection volume, contamination rates, community engagement

Phase One Expansion
- 150 high-traffic C4C sites equipped with battery drop-off bins

Full Rollout
- All 350+ Queensland C4C locations within 12-18 months, subject to pilot outcomes.

This mirrors previous state-supported trials with the National Retail Association and Timber & Hardware Association (Qld Government, 2024). These programs are referenced only to illustrate feasibility.

Stakeholder Framework

In a fully realised model led by appropriate authorities, the roles could be defined as follows:

- Site logistics: Containers for Change
- Stewardship funding: Battery Stewardship Council (B-cycle)
- Battery processing: Existing recyclers such as Envirostream, Close the Loop (referenced as examples only)
- Public engagement: Local councils, environment groups
- Strategic oversight: Queensland Government

Omnii would remain a technical advisor, should such expertise be required.

Market Viability and Unit Threshold

With lithium-ion battery waste in Australia projected to exceed 136,000 tonnes annually by 2036 and growing by 20% per year, the urgency for recovery solutions has never been greater. The proposed model addresses this growing waste stream through an established, community-trusted network, while mitigating risks to public safety and infrastructure.

Achieving cost neutrality in a program of this nature would depend on reaching a sufficient number of active collection points to balance setup and operational costs. This conceptual model follows a service-based approach, where public-private funding supports environmental and operational outcomes rather than direct profit generation.

Market Readiness

This submission outlines a conceptual proposal from Omnii, presented solely for research and feasibility purposes. It is based on Omnii’s technical expertise in fire safety. Omnii is not implementing, piloting, or partnering on this idea, and it is not a commercial proposal.

The concept explores integrating household battery collection into Queensland’s Containers for Change (C4C) refund network to reduce hazardous waste entering kerbside bins. It is grounded in public data, regulation, and engineering principles.

Infrastructure and Technology Readiness

This concept aligns with Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 1–3 but is based on proven infrastructure. Fire-resistant battery bins compliant with AS/NZS 5377:2013 are already in use at various retail sites in Australia. These are designed to limit thermal risk during storage and transit.

Queensland’s C4C network includes 350+ refund points with trained staff, mobile units, and digital refund systems. Battery bins could be integrated into these locations. Systems such as TOMRA, already active in QLD, show how digital refund technology can be extended to other waste streams. The C4C mobile app could also support battery returns through item scanning and claims.

Pilot Program (Conceptual Only)

Omnii has not conducted, commissioned, or partnered on any pilot program related to this proposal. The model outlined in this submission is conceptual and draws on publicly available data. It is intended solely to demonstrate feasibility and does not represent a pre-operational rollout or formally endorsed trial.

That said, the potential for piloting a battery return mechanism within the C4C network can be assessed by referencing existing public infrastructure and known operational behaviours. Similar initiatives, such as automated return systems in Europe or B-Cycle-aligned drop-off models, offer lessons in bin design, contamination control, and user engagement that could inform future planning. If piloting were to be explored by relevant authorities, it would require validation of bin placement logistics, fire risk procedures, contamination controls, and compatibility with C4C’s digital refund infrastructure.

Omnii’s specialist knowledge in fire protection system design for lithium-ion battery environments, including charging stations, EV basements, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Omnii provided fire risk assessments and gap analyses across numerous special hazard sites, including SAFT battery container installations, coal mines and waste handling facilities. Special hazard risks associated with EVs and EV charging stations were also assessed in previous projects

Community Engagement

This proposal builds on the C4C platform’s strong public recognition. The existing network spans metro, regional, and remote areas. Integrating batteries into this system lowers barriers often faced by new initiatives.

Community messaging can adapt current C4C channels, including multilingual signage, visual guides, and QR codes. These have proven effective in improving visibility and reducing confusion about waste types. Recycle Mate also offers a tool for item-specific, location-based advice.

Councils, schools, and local groups could amplify program messages. Familiarity and trust in the existing C4C system would support fast, wide-scale uptake.

Scalability and Alignment with Strategy

The model is designed to scale efficiently using current C4C infrastructure and staffing. Sites already handle high foot traffic and are well-placed to absorb additional streams with minimal investment. Battery bins are modular, and digital systems could be extended to manage new item categories.

National recyclers like Envirostream, Close the Loop, and Ecobatt are expanding capacity under the B-Cycle framework. Though Omnii is unaffiliated, these developments support confidence in end-processing capability. Fire-safe collection embedded in public systems would help meet safety, compliance, and material recovery goals.

Omnii brings deep expertise in managing fire risk in high-voltage and hazardous environments, including BESS, EV charging, and waste depots. Thermal event mitigation is a core focus in these settings.

Conclusion

This submission presents a scalable, research-backed framework for incorporating battery returns into the C4C system. It draws from existing infrastructure, behavioural models, and vendor capacity to propose a technically viable concept. Omnii is not deploying this idea, but offers it to inform policy and planning discussions.

The model supports circular economy goals and reduces fire risk by targeting one of the fastest-growing hazards in the waste sector. With proper oversight, it could deliver strong public safety and sustainability outcomes without major system disruption.

Team

Team

Omnii is a specialist fire consultancy firm operating nationally, with proven experience delivering complex fire safety and fire protection solutions across energy infrastructure, hazardous environments, and emerging technologies such as battery energy storage and electric vehicle systems. The company operates under a certified ISO 9001:2015 quality management system and provides services across fire safety engineering and fire protection, allowing for both high-level risk assessment and detailed system implementation across the project lifecycle.

Omnii’s structure brings together fire protection and fire safety engineering as distinct but complementary disciplines. This enables the firm to support projects from feasibility through to system delivery, while maintaining alignment with national codes and client-specific performance requirements. This dual-discipline capability is particularly valuable in hazardous environments that require both conceptual fire modelling and the planning of on-the-ground suppression systems.

Commercial Project Experience in Energy Storage and Battery Safety

Omnii has delivered specialised fire services in projects involving Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), lithium-ion battery containment, and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. These capabilities are directly relevant to the fire risk considerations posed by battery disposal and recovery within a circular economy framework.

Select project experience includes:

- Morwell Renewable Energy Hub (VIC): Design of site-wide fire protection systems for two BESS facilities, including hydrant and hose reel network.
- SAFT Battery Container Upgrade (Weipa, QLD): Desktop risk assessment and gap analysis of lithium battery fire protection systems. Recommendations led to system upgrades that reduced compliance costs by approximately AUD $30,000.
- Amazon Compactor Fire (multiple sites, Australia): Conducted a comprehensive Options Study to assist Amazon in identifying appropriate fire detection and suppression systems to manage ignition risks from lithium-ion batteries inadvertently disposed in cardboard and general waste compactors.
- 720 Bourke Street (Melbourne, VIC): Technical review of fire hazards associated with EV and charging stations, with hazard comparisons to internal combustion vehicles and tailored mitigation strategies.
- Ryman Retirement Village (Highett, VIC): Fire engineering strategy for EV charging installations in a basement-level residential car park.

In the transition to sustainable energy, Omnii has provided specialist solutions for battery energy storage systems, EVs, and EV charging station installations. This includes thermal runaway prevention strategies, system integration advice, and fire detection and suppression design for high-voltage environments. These risk controls are directly applicable to the infrastructure challenges associated with state-based battery collection or recovery points.

This project suite demonstrates Omnii’s technical understanding of battery-related fire dynamics, compliance frameworks (e.g., AS2419.1, AS/NZS 5377:2013), and mitigation systems applicable to battery return and collection infrastructure.

Special Hazards and Major Infrastructure Project Delivery

Omnii’s delivery capability extends across high-risk environments where fire safety systems must meet rigorous compliance and insurance standards. These include petrochemical processing sites, fuel storage depots, and heavy industrial operations.

Representative projects include:

- Carmichael Mine (QLD): Complete design of detection, alarm, and suppression systems including a firewater ring main and hydrant layout for coal processing facilities.
- Ampol Lytton Refinery – Future Fuels Project (QLD): Fire Safety Study and hydraulic modelling for a gasoline treatment unit, completed in line with API RP 2001, HIPAP 2, and NFPA 15.
- Caltex Jetty Moorings and Refinery Upgrades (NSW): Foam system upgrades and compliance redesigns aligned with AS 3846, AS 1940, and NFPA 11.
- Liberty Metal Recycling (Hemmant, QLD): Design and delivery of a high-capacity hydrant system for a brownfield metal recycling site, with a flow design of 6,000 L/min.
- Tomago Aluminium Smelter (NSW): Hydraulic modelling and system testing to meet insurance performance benchmarks.

These projects demonstrate Omnii’s capacity to deliver compliant, innovative fire protection systems within highly regulated industrial environments, conditions similar to state-wide battery return infrastructure.

Multidisciplinary Competence and Regulatory Alignment
Omnii staff hold professional credentials including CPEng, RPEQ, NER, and FPAS FSA, ensuring all design outputs meet national codes, insurer expectations, and industry-specific safety requirements.

Across its portfolio, the firm delivers:

- Concept and feasibility studies
- System design documentation
- Risk assessments and hazard modelling
- Hydraulic analysis for high-capacity suppression systems

This combination of competencies enables Omnii to contribute technical insights into scalable, fire-safe infrastructure proposals such as battery drop-off integration into refund networks.

Alignment with Waste Sector Needs

Omnii’s project experience intersects with the safety and design needs of infrastructure supporting hazardous material handling and energy transition. The firm’s services are limited to engineering and fire consulting, and it does not manage product stewardship or recycling logistics. However, its expertise supports these functions through:

- Risk reduction frameworks (e.g., thermal runaway controls)
- Fire protocol design for waste depots
- Site-specific equipment and signage reviews
- Application of standards including AS/NZS 5377:2013, AS 2419.1, and NFPA 11.

While Omnii does not engage in the physical collection, transport, or processing of waste materials, its services are essential to the safe design and ongoing risk assessment of facilities handling hazardous waste streams. This includes advising on safe layouts for battery drop-off points, detection systems for waste depots, and emergency response design considerations.

Conclusion
Omnii’s commercial experience spans technical project delivery across infrastructure sectors impacted by battery waste, hazardous materials, and electrification. With a portfolio covering mining, energy, petrochemical, and residential EV projects, the firm offers verified expertise in risk management, fire mitigation, and code-compliant design.

This submission presents a conceptual model informed by that experience. Omnii is not initiating or delivering any recycling scheme but is contributing feasibility insights grounded in technical delivery and specialist credentials. The firm’s history provides a relevant foundation for exploring fire-safe pathways in battery collection within the broader circular economy landscape.

List of References
1. Containers for Change Queensland – Network Locations
https://www.containersforchange.com.au/qld/where-to-return
2. Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) – Battery Fire Survey Summary (2024)
https://acor.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/240603-ACOR-battery-fire-survey-summary.pdf
3. CSIRO – State of Play: Battery Recycling in Australia (2024)
https://www.csiro.au/en/news/all/articles/2024/november/saf-state-of-play-report
4. CSIRO – Critical Minerals Research
https://www.csiro.au/en/research/natural-environment/critical-minerals
5. Battery Stewardship Council – Overview and B-cycle Scheme
https://bsc.org.au/b-cycle/
6. B-cycle – Official Scheme Website
https://bcycle.com.au/
7. Battery Stewardship Council – About the BSC
https://bcycle.com.au/about/battery-stewardship-council/
8. B-cycle – Positive Charge Impact Report (2023)
https://bcycle.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/B-cycle-Positive-Charge-Report-20231207.pdf
9. B-cycle First Performance Report (Waste Management Review)
https://wastemanagementreview.com.au/battery-recycling-scheme-b-cycle-impresses-with-first-performance-report/