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Battery Circular Economy News

ABRI Member Bulletin ~ 17 April 2023

  1. Restrictions on interstate ULAB transfers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – negative impacts for battery recycling industry
  2. Consultation on proposed EV Battery Stewardship Scheme – submissions due 15 May
  3. Reminder – NSW lithium battery recycling regulatory framework – Workshop 2 (4 May)
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1. RESTRICTIONS ON INTERSTATE ULAB TRANSFERS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS – NEGATIVE IMPACTS FOR BATTERY RECYCLING INDUSTRY

ABRI CEO Katharine Hole is aware of instances where environmental regulators in Victoria, Queensland and NSW are prohibiting interstate ULAB transfers as the policy preference is for ULAB to be recycled in the state of collection to minimise greenhouse gas emission transportation costs.

This approach has significant commercial and investment ramifications for the battery recycling industry across Australia. For consolidators and collectors of ULAB, this removes competition and effectively creates monopolies in each state. It does not appreciate that commercial and logistics (storage and transport) arrangements operate on a national basis. It also does not recognise the linkages between lead acid battery manufacturing and sales, and collection of ULAB. It does not understand the different capability and capacity of each of the recyclers nor the role of linkages to export markets.

This policy has a number of potential unintended consequences of increased illegal exports and interstate transports, and reduced ULAB collection as the market is no longer competitive. Furthermore, this policy may not achieve the desired reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions.

ABRI will be advocating that the policy is suspended pending an analysis of the implications and ask that industry is consulted in future policy initiatives.

ABRI is working with the relevant state environmental regulators and Commonwealth government agencies to highlight the negative impacts of this policy approach and recognise that battery recycling is a national industry.

ABRI members who are being negatively impacted by this policy approach should contact Katharine to provide further examples of the impacts of this policy.

 

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2. CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED EV BATTERY STEWARDSHIP SCHEME – SUBMISSIONS DUE 15 MAY

The Battery Stewardship Council, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) is consulting on options for EV battery stewardship. The discussion paper asks a number of questions about challenges and current knowledge within the sector that could be used to inform an outcome.

Feedback is sought by 15 May. The proposed next steps are release of the First Options Paper in July 2023, in advance of workshops in Sydney and Melbourne in August. The resulting Firm Options paper will be released in the second half of 2023 followed by further workshops.

ABRI is currently preparing a response potentially supported by external expert advice which highlights:

  • Giving precedence to the development of commercial solutions
  • The full range of policy options to achieve battery circular economy outcomes with the objective of maximising efficiency and minimising costs to consumers
  • Minimising administrative costs and red tape where safe and sustainable to do so
  • Consistency with policy developments and regulation overseas, such as producer responsibility and battery tracking rules, to maximise and leverage existing opportunities and removing the need for duplicative frameworks
  • Ensure urban, regional and remote areas can access battery recycling opportunities
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3. REMINDER - NSW LITHIUM BATTERY RECYCLING REGULATORY FRAMEWORK - WORKSHOP 2 (4 MAY)

This is a reminder to RSVP if you would like to join over 30 government, industry and stakeholder representatives at the ABRI and University of Sydney Law School second workshop on the development of the NSW Lithium Battery Recycling Regulatory Guide.

The workshop will be run in two parts:

  1. Presentation and feedback on the draft guide covering topics such as: Battery and product classifications; Planning approvals and conditions; Environmental approvals and conditions; Transport and dangerous goods approvals and conditions; WHS requirements; Waste definitions and implications for battery landfill bans and resource recovery; and export permits.
  2. Working group discussions on priorities for further work.

Workshop Details and draft agenda

1pm to 4.30pm, Thursday 4 May
Law Foyer in the New Law Building, University of Sydney
RSVP: secretariat@batteryrecycling.org.au or call Katharine Hole, ABRI CEO on 0488 216 750.

The paper from the first workshop is available at this link.

ABRI
Email   secretariat@batteryrecyling.org.au
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