12 December 2023

Written By Katharine Hole

1. JOHNSON WINTER SLATTERY INVITATION TO ABRI MEMBERS - INFORMATION SESSION AND NETWORKING - MELBOURNE 7 FEBRUARY

REGISTER HERE

2. WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS - CIRCULAR PV ALLIANCE, EQUALITHIUM AND UTILITARIAN

ABRI welcomes the following new members:

Circular PV Alliance‘s mission is to realise the full environmental, economic and social benefits of solar energy by supporting the Australian solar energy sector transition into a circular economy. CPVA is a grassroots not-for-profit organisation, founded by the solar energy industry, for the solar energy industry. CPVA provides a support network and central point of engagement with industry stakeholders, policy-makers, other industries and government for matters relating to the solar energy circular economy.

Equalithium, a start-up, Singapore based company, was founded in 2022, and as a former automotive logistics expert, is dedicated to addressing sustainability issues related to the production and disposal of electric mobility device batteries. Areas of expertise include:

  • Use of Innovative Technology – dry mechanical Li-ion battery recycling technology with patented vacuum drying

  • Certifiable Disposal of EOL Batteries and Traceability for Export – Advanced RFID tracking to package black mass for export, thereby providing secure and traceable transportation to its destination.

  • Sustainable Recycling & Recovery of Critical Material from End-of-Life Batteries (offered as a service) – In recovering the critical material by way of distilling the black mass from EOL batteries, Equalithium provides a sustainable source of material for the production of new generations of e-mobility device batteries focusing on recycling batteries from BESS, EVs and data centres and recycling as a service.

Utilitarian, is a digital platform which assists businesses to engage more effectively with product stewardship as a direct to customer channel. Utilitarian provides a convenient solution for brand owners to give consumers a way to stay connected and engaged, ensuring that Brands are trusted as the authority for the sustainable and safe management of products when in consumers hands. Consumers benefit by real time connection with product information and customer service solutions such as how to reuse, repair and recycle products. Consumers who take positive action may be rewarded with brand discounts, reward points, and other perks.

3. NSW WASTE TRACKING SYSTEM CHANGES - UPDATE ON USED LEAD ACID, NICKEL CADMIUM AND LITHIUM BATTERY TRACKING IN IWTS

The NSW EPA waste tracking system is scheduled to change in February 2024. The Online Waste Tracking (OWT) system will be replaced by the Integrated Waste Tracking Solution (IWTS). Businesses already using the OWT and tracking waste should have received an invitation to join the IWTS system on 1 December 2023. If you have not received an invitation and need to track waste, you can establish an account and/or verify your organisation’s details here. An information and demonstration session is being held on Tuesday 16 January 2024 to help businesses prepare for the new system.

Following ABRI CEO, Katharine Hole, and ABRI member discussions (11 December) with the NSW EPA to seek clarity on intrastate battery tracking, the NSW EPA is expected to provide guidance on the approach to tracking of used batteries in the new system. In short, ABRI expects that there will be no changes to existing policies and that the NSW EPA will consult with industry on possible future policy changes, such as intrastate tracking of used lead acid batteries and nickel cadmium. Information from the NSW EPA will be circulated as soon as available.

4. ZEROING IN ON BATTERY CIRCULAR ECONOMY POLICY PRIORITIES

Increased frequency and quantity of news reports on battery fires, and the meeting (10 Nov) of Environment Ministers from across Australia is escalating public attention on safe and sustainable solutions for battery end of life management especially handheld batteries and products with embedded batteries.

Industry is already well advanced on exploring and developing solutions.

ABRI CEO, Katharine Hole, promoted the battery recycling sectors activities and industry priorities as part of a panel at Parliament House for the launch of Beyond Zero Emissions Battery Supply Chain Briefing Paper. For the recycling sector, the Beyond Zero Emissions paper advocates for:

  • Processing black mass in Australia thereby supporting the local recycling industry by including mass under the Hazardous Waste Act (1989)

  • Mapping and planning the end of life logistics for batteries, including appropriate aggregation and recycling locations.

In a collaborative paper comparing policy approaches in the US and Australia to close the lithium-ion battery loop, researchers at CSIRO and Argonne National Laboratory recommend a package of measures for achieving a sustainable battery lifecycle including:

  • Developing regulations and policies that accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions and incentivize the growth of a transparent, ethical, and environment-friendly battery supply chain, such as the ESG framework and emission and fuel standards;

  • Securing partnerships to ensure that deficits in the domestic supply chains can be reliably filled;

  • Mandating methods to track batteries through their lifecycle and enable identification of end of life battery chemistry to simplify sorting and recycling;

  • Creating regulation that simplifies the safe transport of end of life LIBs to recycling facilities;

  • Ensuring recycling is occurring by creating policy that establishes responsibility for EOL batteries and/or making recycling sufficiently profitable;

  • Mandating recycled content for new LIB production (within the physical limits); and

  • Developing alternative recycling technologies that are more efficient (i.e., lower energy and green chemistry) and/or batteries that use more abundant material resources.

These papers reinforce ABRI’s advocacy activities. As mentioned in the 9 November ABRI Member Bulletin, ABRI is also working on a white paper to advocate for industry specific grants to support investment and development of Australian technology. Interested members should contact ABRI President Nicolas Assef or ABRI CEO Katharine Hole if they information for this paper.

5. CALENDAR OF ABRI MEMBER EVENTS - UPDATE INVITATION TO JOHNSON WINTER SLATTERY SESSION ON BATTERY RECYCLING: THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND FUNDING

ABRI Event Calendar

UPDATED: Melbourne – 4pm 7 February – sponsored by ABRI member Johnson Winter Slattery a full service law firm – INVITATION – BATTERY RECYCLING PRESENTATION AND DRINKS

Perth – late March/early April – member network and information session

Sydney – 15 August 2024 – 2024 ABRI Battery Recycling & Manufacturing Summit

 

6. ABRI MEDIA RELEASES, SUBMISSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Media releases

15 November 2023 – Recycling industry must be front and centre in environmental battery plan

13 November 2023 – ABRI Partnership with CPVA

Presentations & Submissions

17 November 2023 – ABRI overview slide – innovation and technology developments for Beyond Zero Emissions cleantech supply chain opportunities showcase

24 November 2023 – ABRI submission to NSW Parliament Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety – Electric and hybrid vehicle batteries inquiry

Katharine Hole
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