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ABRI CEO RESIGNS TO TAKE ON A FULL-TIME ROLE WITH THE BSC |
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This week ABRI CEO Libby Chaplin tendered her resignation to the Executive Committee to be effective in April with an ongoing advisory role to assist in the onboarding of her replacement. Libby has been with ABRI since 2016 and during that time has focused on improving industry liaison with government agencies, developing best practices, raising awareness and advocating for industry issues and concerns. Libby has been part time CEO for the BSC since 2018, however this year the BSC will be moving to an operational design phase and as such requires full time engagement of the CEO.
“I step aside with some sadness as ABRI has been a fantastic experience, especially during a pivotal time in which we have led the way in creating a national stewardship scheme for Australia. I leave the association with new friends and strong connections and look forward to continuing those through the BSC. I consider the ABRI and BSC partnership to be critical as we move to operationalising the Scheme over the coming months and years. Special thanks to members and the Executive Members for the strong engagement and support during my tenure.” Chaplin said.
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EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SOUGHT FOR ABRI CEO & SECRETARIAT SERVICES |
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ABRI is seeking expressions of interest for ABRI CEO & secretariat services. This contract will initially be for a 9 month period with potential for an ongoing arrangement. Interested parties are encourage to review the scope of work and provide an expression of interest by COB 15th March.
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ABRI WEBINAR - 2 NEW DATES FOR MIXED BATTERY PACKING GUIDELINES ADG CODE 7.7 |
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If you missed the ABRI webinar ‘Implementing new packing instructions for road transport of mixed loads of batteries’ last year, two new dates have been scheduled for 23 March and 14 April 2021. Details for the two new dates are below.
Dates: Tuesday 23 March and Wednesday 14 April
Time: 10.00am – 12.30pm (AEDT)
Cost: $95.00 +GST for non-members or $75.00 +GST for ABRI members
The webinar will provide practical guidance on safe packing of mixed loads of batteries for road transport and will be presented by ABRI’s Libby Chaplin and Debra Kirk from the National Transport Commission.
This webinar has been prepared by ABRI with input from the National Transport Commission and members of the Competent Authorities Panel to ensure that the information provided is consistent with the latest version of the ADG. The Australian Dangerous Goods Code was updated to version 7.7 in July 2020 for implementation October 2020 with a 12-month transition period to follow.
The webinar will cover road transport compliance and best practice guidance including topics such as:
- General safety
- Choosing a qualified recycler
- Acceptable containers
- Packing instructions
- Placarding
- Transport and waste approval documentation
- Managed damaged and defective batteries
- Things to avoid
Who should attend?
This webinar will be relevant to those who are responsible for storage, packing or transport by road of mixed loads of batteries or anyone one interested in safe storage of batteries. A certificate of attendance will be provided after the event.
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QLD GOVERNMENT RELEASES GUIDELINE FOR PREVENTION OF FIRES IN WASTE STOCKPILES |
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This guideline has been developed to assist environmental authority (EA) holders that undertake waste and recycling activities to ensure they are meeting their general environmental duty and reducing the risk of environmental harm from fires in stockpiles.
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MORE PATENT PROTECTION FOR LITHIUM AUSTRALIA’S ADVANCED EXTRACTION TECHNOLOGIES |
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Lithium Australia NL (ASX: LIT, ‘the Company’) has developed a suite of compatible technologies that minimise the number of process steps from mine gate to, say, electric vehicle, along with subsequent recovery of energy metals from spent batteries – thereby enabling a circular battery economy, the key to sustainability.
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SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION TOOLS TO SUPPORT THE NEW ACT |
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Proposed final versions of the new subordinate legislation – the Environment Protection Regulations and Environment Reference Standard (ERS) – have been released to support Victorians to prepare for new environment protection laws.
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CALL2RECYCLE CELEBRATES A MILESTONE YEAR WITH 8.4 MILLION POUNDS OF BATTERIES RECYCLED |
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To celebrate National Battery Day on February 18, Call2Recycle® announced that their collection partners, stewards, and consumers recycled 8.4 million pounds of batteries throughout the U.S. in 2020, an 11% increase from 2019. The collection milestone underscores the organization’s work over the last 26 years to safely collect and recycle used consumer batteries.
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LFP – RAPIDLY EXPANDING LITHIUM-ION BATTERY TECHNOLOGY |
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In the past two years there’s been a major transformation in lithium-ion batteries (‘LIBs’) for use in electric vehicles (‘EVs’) in China. Given the rapid penetration of lithium ferro phosphate (‘LFP’) into that market, EV manufacturers elsewhere are scrambling to follow.
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BUTTON BATTERIES - LANDMINES IN THE LOUNGE ROOM |
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In Australia, an estimated 20 children per week turn up at hospital emergency departments with suspected button battery ingestions. Up to two dozen children per year end up with serious, lifelong injuries.
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LI-ION BATTERY FIRES UNFAIRLY COST WASTE, RECYCLING AND SCRAP OPERATORS OVER $1.2 BILLION ANNUALLY |
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Ryan Fogelman, JD/MBA, is vice president of strategic partnerships for Fire Rover. He is focused on bringing innovative safety solutions to market, and two of his solutions have won the distinguished Edison Innovation Award for Industrial Safety and Consumer Products. He has been compiling and publishing the “Reported Waste & Recycling Facility Fires In The US/CAN” since February 2016 and the “Waste & Recycling Facility Fires Annual Report.” Fogelman speaks regularly on the topic of the scope of fire problems facing the waste and recycling industries, detection solutions, proper fire planning and early-stage fire risk mitigation. Additionally, Fogelman is on the National Fire Protection Association’s Technical Committee for Hazard Materials.
This article focuses on some of the insights and highlights he is learning in putting together 2020’s Annual Report, which will identify trends and include fire prevention best practices and solutions.
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HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING AN ABRI MEMBER? |
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ABRI members are actively involved at the forefront of developments in industry and government to address the rapid expansion in the market and ensure that solutions to battery stewardship are practical and far reaching. Together, we influence policy, participate in research, facilitate trials and develop best practices to ensure that battery handling and recovery options are safe, efficient and business friendly. Our members represent the entire supply chain – importers, retailers, energy providers, recyclers, as well as government and research. We rely on member support to provide the latest information, events, best practices and industry trends. If your organisation finds these activities relevant, now is a good time to become involved.
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NEW WEARABLE DEVICE TURNS THE BODY INTO A BATTERY |
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Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a new, low-cost wearable device that transforms the human body into a biological battery.
The device, described in the journal Science Advances, is stretchy enough that you can wear it like a ring, a bracelet or any other accessory that touches your skin. It also taps into a person’s natural heat – employing thermoelectric generators to convert the body’s internal temperature into electricity.
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LITHIUM-ION BATTERY RECYCLING PRIZE DRIVES RECOVERY OF SPENT BATTERIES |
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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy recently launched the third and final phase of the Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Prize with a virtual kickoff event to introduce the Phase III rules and voucher guidelines. Seven teams from across the United States are advancing to Phase III of the competition, which contributes to DOE’s goal to capture 90% of all spent lithium-ion batteries (LIB) for eventual recycling of critical materials and reintroduction into the supply chain.
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NEW SOLUTION FOR LITHIUM RECOVERY FROM ELECTRIC CARS |
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Researchers in China have discovered a new way to extract lithium from used lithium iron phosphate batteries. The innovative process generates Li3PO4, which can be sold at a profit to battery manufacturers.
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AQUA METALS INVESTS IN LINICO, A CLEANTECH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY RECYCLING INNOVATOR |
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Aqua Metals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AQMS) (“Aqua Metals” or the “Company”), a leading innovator in lead battery metal recycling with its AquaRefining™ technology, is expanding into lithium-ion battery recycling by investing in LINICO Corporation (“LiNiCo”). Previously, the Company and LiNiCo reached a lease-to-buy agreement for the Aqua Metals’ AquaRefining facility. Aqua Metals has committed a $2 million investment, paid in Aqua Metals shares, for a 10% ownership in LiNiCo, as part of its strategy to strengthen growth by potentially applying AquaRefining™ intellectual property to lithium-ion battery recycling while meeting its lead recycling commercial guidance.
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BATTERY PROCESSORS LAY OUT LATEST MOVES |
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A battery recycling company goes public, North American collection numbers are released, and a lead-acid battery technology company moves into the lithium-ion realm. Those announcements were made around National Battery Day.
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