22 March 2024
1. Your opportunity to provide input into battery recycling industry policy positions and priorities
ABRI is seeking member input on industry priorities to inform the development of ABRI’s policy position in response to growing calls for greater producer responsibility for end of life battery management. This discussion includes what’s the best way to achieve this e.g. voluntary/mandatory, stewardship scheme, corporate program, and or a combination of policy tools. Please email ABRI CEO, Katharine Hole, if you have industry priorities you would like ABRI to progress.
As you will most likely be aware, there is an urgent appeal from the waste sector to address the harmful impact of lithium battery fires in garbage trucks and waste facilities. This is intensifying discussion on solutions to accelerate the diversion of batteries from waste streams to battery recyclers.
Initiatives already in place or under development include:
Battery Stewardship Council’s review of B-cycle to address the changes in economic conditions
Commonwealth Government e-stewardship reform which proposes to expand the number of products in the NTCRS, including those with embedded batteries, add solar panels and possibly add ‘plug and play’ batteries
Queensland Government leadership of work for Environment ministers to inform potential future regulatory actions around lithium batteries and safety risk.
Leadership by some corporates to drive and support product and battery recycling - this is happening across all battery applications (consumer, EV, energy storage, aftermarket, etc) and is evidenced by reports of direct relationships between recyclers and OEMs – a global trend especially for larger battery formats
Education campaigns by B-cycle, state and local governments, and others encouraging households and the community not to dispose of batteries in bins
Bans on batteries in landfill in Victoria and South Australia with WA expected to commence a ban in 2024 and NSW reportedly exploring this measure
Requests to ABRI from corporates for evidence of tracking and tracing of batteries, both lead acid and lithium, to demonstrate sustainability claims and manage the product circular economy
Corporates moving towards aligning with practices in international jurisdictions, such as the European battery passport
Financial sector interest in how grid scale energy storage projects to demonstrate ESG credentials, including battery recycling
With a lack of a coherent national or state/territory government battery circular economy strategy and in a web of overlapping policy and corporate battery circular economy drivers, ABRI’s policy position on proposals to increase battery recovery rates is principles based. This approach has sought to recognise, that in a complex and variable battery landscape, a one size fits all approach may be preferable but not practical given battery applications and chemistry combinations have different market structures and material flows. Therefore, a framework is required to assess each proposal.
ABRI has sought:
All batteries should be recycled in Australia underpinned by a world leading battery recycling sector and local technology. Consideration should also be given to processing black mass in Australia to extract the critical minerals.
Minimisation of regulatory costs and red tape where safe and sustainable to do so. A 2023 ABRI member survey shows that inefficient and conflicting regulatory processes are a major challenge and barrier for business.
Precedence is given to the development of commercial solutions and that these provide consumers confidence that circular economy commitments are being delivered.
Consistency with policy developments and regulation overseas, such as producer responsibility and battery material traceability rules (e.g. European battery passport), to maximise and leverage existing opportunities.
Australian recycled materials can be used to meet the requirements for minimum recycled content in new batteries manufactured in other countries.
Urban, regional and remote areas can equally access battery recycling opportunities.
In this context, ABRI is inviting members to put forward comments on the above and your priorities for supporting the battery recycling industry and specific comments on the detailed policy proposals underway. This will inform the development of ABRI’s position and response to consultations underway, such as B-cycle, on optimal outcomes for the industry.
2. ABRI 2024 AGM - 14 March - presentations
Fifteen members attended the ABRI 2024 AGM on 14 March.
Presentations from:
ABRI’s President, Nicholas Assef, focused on what the Association should be doing to deliver value to its members
ABRI’s Treasurer, Troy Rowe, provided an overview of the 2023 accounts
ABRI’s CEO discussed 2023 highlights and major projects for 2024 - more on this in coming bulletins.
The following member representatives were elected to fill positions on the Executive Committee:
Libby Chaplin, Battery Stewardship Council
Ben Pritchard, Envirostream
Shane Piuselli, Nyrstar
Paul Stainsby, Ramcar/Supercharge
3. New publications looking at lithium battery safety in Australia
Publications discussing lithium batteries are plentiful and if you’re like me, there’s more available than can possibly be read. However, I’d like to draw your attention to a few that have come through my email box recently and are particularly relevant to developments in Australia. Regards, Katharine
Fire + Rescue NSW lithium-ion battery incidents for 2022 and 2023 - Two years’ of data from FRNSW’s incident reporting system on trends and insights into lithium-ion battery fires in NSW.
Australian Battery Industry Association (ABIA) position statement - taking action to improve lithium battery product quality and safety - this sets out the actions the ABIA is taking to strengthen lithium-ion battery product quality and safety. The ABIA is the industry association with Companies in battery manufacturing, importing, distribution and/or retail operations across Australia primarily for lead acid and lithium batteries. These companies are specialists in aftermarket batteries for the automotive, marine, industrial and recreational segments of the battery market.
4. ABRI Member Events
3 Apr NEW online (2-3pm AEDT) – Proposed ADG8 and implications for lithium batteries - National Transport Commission presentation Registration
15 Aug Sydney – 2024 ABRI Battery Recycling & Manufacturing Summit
5. ABRI media, submissions and government engagement
21 March - ABRI meeting with NSW Government Electricity Infrastructure roadmap team to discuss direction of battery recycling industry and renewable energy infrastructure investment
22 March - ABRI submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water has inquiry into the transition to electric vehicles (EVs)
26 March - ABRI CEO, Katharine Hole, appearing at NSW Joint Standing Committee Inquiry into Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Batteries
27 March - Qld Government Management of end of life batteries: stakeholder group