All household single use or rechargeable batteries will be able to be recycled. These can be found in toys, watches, clocks, smoke alarms, audio-visual equipment as well as cameras.

Battery recycling collection bins will be placed at Ararat Rural City Customer Service Centre and Transfer Stations in Ararat, Stawell and St Arnaud.

The trial is a partnership between Sustainability Victoria and Grampians Regional Waste Management Group (GRWMG) and commenced yesterday. The trial will run through to May 31, 2012.

"Batteries are the most common form of household hazardous waste, with over 8,000 tonnes ending up in Australian landfills each year. This trial will significantly reduce the number of batteries going to landfill and will help lessen the impact of hazardous waste disposal on our environment," Andy Race from GRMWG said.

When batteries are put in the rubbish bins and sent to landfill, toxic chemicals such as mercury, lead, nickel and cadmium can leach out and harm our environment.

Mr Race said that batteries collected during this trial will be sent to specialised recycling facilities for processing.

"When we recycle our batteries, precious metals found in single-use batteries such as silver and iron can be recovered and cadmium can be used to manufacture new batteries. While other chemicals can be disposed of safely."

Car batteries can still be taken to major Transfer Stations to be recycled free of charge and mobile phone batteries can be taken to Mobile Muster recycling drop-off points.