2 May 2024
1. Will this impact your business? Draft global changes to lithium battery and cell transport rules
The next meeting of international experts on dangerous goods (24 June to 3 July 2024) will consider proposals to change rules for transport of lithium batteries. In the long term, these will flow through to the Australian Dangerous Goods Code if accepted internationally and by the Australian Government.
Key proposals:
Development of a lithium cell and battery hazard system and consequent introduction of multiple new UN numbers to reflect hazard categories - Full proposal
Lithium cells and batteries where a design change has resulted from repurposing, remanufacturing or repairing will need retesting in line with the Manual of Tests and Criteria section 38.3. - Full proposal
Alignment of requirements for transport of more than one item of dangerous goods - Full proposal - Full proposal
Special provisions for solid state lithium ion cells and batteries that do no cause thermal runaway - Full proposal
Used medical devices containing lithium batteries being transported for disinfection, cleaning, sterilization, repair or equipment evaluation shall also be assigned UN 3481 or UN 3091 - Full proposal
A full list of papers and the meeting agenda is available here. The agenda also includes discussion of proposed changes to tests for new lithium cells and batteries.
If you have comments about the implications of any proposals and their workability, please contact ABRI CEO, Katharine Hole, who will raise with the National Transport Commission. Submissions are due by 27 May. It is important to influence policy change now, before it flows through to Australian rules.
2. Developing used battery storage standards - progressing development of an Australian Standard
The first meeting of the ABRI used battery storage standards working group was held on 2 May. The group discussed development of a proposal to submit to Standards Australia for a standard for safe storage and handling of used lithium batteries.
Standards Australia and EPA Victoria also attended.
Standards Australia has two strategic initiatives under consideration:
End user standards focusing on safety and performance
Reuse, purposing and recycling - what’s needed in this space?
Work is also underway to understand what standards exist internationally. This will be shared with the ABRI working group at the next meeting and information will be sent in a further ABRI member bulletin.
Victoria EPA participated in the discussion to inform their work on development of national guidance to support consistency of requirements on safe storage of used lithium batteries.
The ABRI working group will pull together a draft framework for a used battery storage standard with the priority on lithium batteries for discussion at the next working group meeting.
Please contact me, Katharine Hole, ABRI CEO, for further information.
3. Australia ranks in top 10 for lithium battery recycling research - help build the industry’s profile
Did you know that a preliminary scan of the academic literature by the Australian Battery Society shows Australia is ranked 7th in publications for lithium battery recycling?
ABRI members are core supporters, in collaboration with the research sector, of commercialisation of battery recycling and reuse technology, processes and infrastructure development.
It is now time to promote the capability of the Australian battery recycling industry and commercialisation of work on recycling and reuse underway. Assist ABRI, in collaboration with leading battery sector academics at the Australian Battery Society, build a strong and clear narrative about the work underway and lift the domestic industry’s profile by completing this survey.
This work seeks to take a snapshot of what’s happening today with so many moving parts across the sector. The intention is to use the information to show the world how Australia is doing. ABRI and the Society aim to develop a consolidated state of play and showcase the world-leading work underway.
All questions are optional recognising that in some cases patents may be pending or their other commercial in confidence considerations.
4. ABRI Member Events
15 Aug Sydney – 2024 ABRI Battery Recycling & Manufacturing Summit
5. ABRI media, submissions and stakeholder engagement
12 April - Media Release - “A Future Made in Australia” - prioritise a battery circular economy
28 April - Media Release - Developing solutions to rapidly expand lithium battery recycling
1 May - ABRI presentation Circular Economy of Batteries at Solar & Storage Live, Brisbane
23 May - ABRI Battery Recycling Presentation to Waste Management & Resource Recovery Association Annual Tasmanian Forum
3 June - ABRI represents industry on the Department of Climate Change, Energy and Environment E-stewardship Reform Working Group