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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