Recycling Power

1. VICTORIA - FINALISING LICENSING (PERMISSIONS) ARRANGEMENTS FOR ULAB

ABRI members met (13 July) with the Victorian EPA to consider next steps in finalising a possible general designation for licensing (permissioning) of ULAB to support safe and sustainable regulation of ULAB.

Vic EPA presented a set of Draft Conditions for ABRI, based on ADG requirements, and is using these to work towards finalising the general designation. Once drafting is completed, finalisation and publication of the designation is subject to approval.

Vic EPA is also proposing to coordinate further engagement sessions for:

• all ABRI members on the publication 2018: Storage and management of waste batteries – guideline and is interested in member feedback on the guidelines; and
• licensed entities, an education session on fire risk management.

The ABRI secretariat will provide further details on these events when they become available.

2. VOLVO BUSES PRESENTATION - THE JOURNEY TO CLEAN TRANSPORT AND THE COMPLICATIONS FOR THE BATTERY CIRCULAR ECONOMY

The first face-to-face ABRI members meeting in June was an enjoyable evening where  members could build connections with existing and new industry stakeholders.

Christina Cortese, Sustainability and Energy Business Manager, spoke to members about Volvo Buses’ focus on circularity and the specific actions Volvo is taking today to do its part in a circular economy. She noted that this is especially important for battery electric vehicles. Volvo sees and knows that there are significant opportunities for batteries once they reach their end of life on buses as they still have enough capacity for alternative applications.

Volvo Buses Presentation – ABRI Members Meeting June 2022

To learn more about Volvo’s strategic approach to circularity follow this link covering Circular Design, Remanufacturing and Zero Waste to Landfill.

Members also heard a diverse panel of speakers discuss the opportunities in a rapidly growing and diversifying industry sector and how can industry position itself for the future.

3. NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMMISSION - TIMING FOR RELEASE AND COMMENCEMENT OF ADG 7.8

The National Transport Commission has provided an update on the process timelines supporting implementation of ADG code 7.8. The changes, however, do-not affect the final compliance date on 1 October 2023. Detailed information is provided in the table below.

The changes are due to a shift in the meeting timetable for Infrastructure and Transport Minister to endorse ADG 7.8 due to the Federal and Victorian elections.

4. NATIONAL HEAVY VEHICLE REGULATOR (NHVR) - PROPOSED WASTE AND RECYCLING INDUSTRY CODE OF PRACTICE FOR LOAD MANAGEMENT - IMPLICATIONS FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and Waste Recycling Industry Queensland (WRIQ) are developing a Code of Practice for Load Management. The Code is being developed to assist waste and recycling industry operators to better manage the safety of their load management practices and to comply with the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

The Code is covering all waste matters and ABRI is being asked for input on the section regarding management of dangerous materials, particularly fire risks related to lithium batteries.

The ABRI Secretariat will provide further information to members when available. This includes providing a draft copy of the Code to members for comment.

5. ACCC - 2022/23 PRODUCT SAFETY PRIORITIES - MINIMISING RISKS AND RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT UNSAFE PRODUCTS - LITHIUM AND BUTTON CELL BATTERIES

Each year the ACCC identifies work priorities to minimise risks and raise awareness of the risks posed by unsafe consumer goods. The ACCC’s 2022/23 product safety priorities include:

1. Scoping product safety issues and identifying potential hazard prevention strategies
   relating to lithium-ion batteries.
2. Compliance with the button battery safety standards. These standards relate to packaging  and customer information to support button battery safety.

Addressing issues of product quality and safety are part of the ABRI/ABIA statement of collaboration. ABIA is developing a voluntary endorsement symbol to cover the vast majority of batteries used in industries specifically around 12V, 24V, 36V and 48V to support improved customer information on product quality, safety and sustainability.

ABRI will work with ABIA on matters which may be of relevance to the battery recycling industry.

You received this at [email] because you signed up for ABRI emails.

If you do not wish to receive emails from ABRI, please unsubscribe here. Please add the email address info@batteryrecycling.org.au to your address book to ensure delivery to your inbox

Copyright © 2022 Australian Battery Recycling Inititative. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy | Terms & Conditions