9 November 2023
1. LETTER FROM ABRI PRESIDENT AND CEO - ADVOCATING FOR INDUSTRY SPECIFIC GRANTS TO SUPPORT INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTRALIAN TECHNOLOGY
Dear ABRI Member,
ABRI is planning a detailed white paper submission to Federal & State Government Agencies seeking specific grants to support the battery recycling industry. These would be to support the development of new technologies and processes for handling battery waste materials including regional logistics challenges. ABRI is not focused on any one area but gaining recognition as a standalone industry supplying critical minerals and raw materials and lifting the conversation for industry support as a whole as a leader in sustainability and the circular economy. We believe that this financial support is critical to the development of the domestic industry, readiness at scale and to support for exportable technologies.
The white paper will also be used as vehicle to promote the industry more widely with key stakeholders and the media. A white paper is considered newsworthy as it is evidence based, supported by research and presents industry’s priorities. These are attractive to media for stories underpinned by fact-based material, that is succinctly summarised.
As a part of the preparation of the White paper it is important to draw on membership expertise and experience including for support industries such as storage, fire safety, etc. To this end, if this is of interest to you, could you please send a maximum of 100 words to either Katharine Hole or Nicholas Assef for potential inclusion. We will draw this information together into an industry position paper i.e. not attribute any comments to an organisation – so confidentiality on any feedback / observation is assured.
If you could have feedback to us by close of business 20th November 2023 that would be great. We are planning to have the paper ready for launch on 1 February 2024 to set the agenda for 2024 (and so that it does not get lost in the end of year rush/holiday inboxes).
Many thanks
Nicholas Assef, ABRI President Katharine Hole, ABRI CEO
2. 2024 - ABRI MEMBER VALUE - INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES TO NETWORK AND SHARE LEARNINGS THROUGH EVENTS
In 2024, ABRI is lining up more member only events for you. Further details will be forthcoming, in the interim hold the dates for:
Melbourne – Feb 2024 – Member networking and information session, 4 to 6pm, 7 February 2024 – sponsored by ABRI member Johnson Winter Slattery a full service law firm.
Perth – Member network and information session, late March/early April
Sydney – 2024 ABRI Battery Recycling and Manufacturing Summit, 15 August 2024
Look for further information on these and upcoming events, including Adelaide, in a regular Member Events feature in future ABRI Bulletins.
3. THE PLANNING AND REGULATORY SYSTEM IN NSW - WHAT APPLIES TO USED LITHIUM BATTERY COLLECTION AND PROCESSING FACILITIES?
The key concludtions at the ABRI member information session on the NSW planning regulatory system were:
New infrastructure is needed to keep pace with battery stewardship
Proposals to collect and process used lithium batteries will trigger one of two assessment and approval pathways – Designated or State Signifcant Development
Proposals will require EPA licences
Considering fire, emergency management and local planning controls early in the process is critical for success
Early due diligence into appropriate sites, agency and community consultation – key ingredients for success
Read more in Mark Jackson’s presentation – NSW Planning and Reg Framework for Li Battery Recycling Facilities. The presentation also provides an overview of the steps, policies, planning controls and specialist input required in preparing a planning application.
4. NOW AVAILABLE - IMPROVING SAFE PACKING AND TRANSPORT OF USED LEAD ACID BATTERY (ULAB) - LATEST ABRI GUIDELINE
Many thanks to DGL for sponsorship and ABRI ULAB members for feedback on Version 2 of the ABRI Safe and Sustainable Used Lead Acid Battery (ULAG) Logistics Guidelines.
This Guideline has now been published and is now available on the ABRI website. The Guideline is for collectors and aggregators of ULAB to assist them undertake safe packing and transporting practices when sending ULAB to processors/recyclers.
ABRI is developing a two pager for ULAB processors to give to ULAB collectors and aggregators to improve packing and transport standards. This will be available by end November and focus on pallet selection, wrapping, strapping and labelling.
5. LATEST ABRI MEDIA RELEASES
7 November – Urgent call to dispose of used batteries safely