Battery Circular Economy News

1. WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION TO SUPPORT THE BATTERY RECYCLING INDUSTRY?

ABRI CEO, Katharine Hole, is engaging with a number of governments to progressing priorities for the battery recycling sector including:

• stressing the urgency for a harmonised national waste tracking system to improve business efficiency and reduce reporting duplication
• improving public data on battery fire incidents to share learnings, for example through the National Fire Data Reporting Guidelines
• development of a battery recyclers regulatory guide through participation in a proposed ABRI collaboration with the University of Sydney Australian Research Council grant
• supporting BSC with partnering with Government for developing education and
  communications messaging and campaigns about safe used battery drop off
• funding and research to address knowledge gaps as to fire risk minimisation

The next opportunity for ABRI to engage with government is at the NSW Industry Policy roundtable on 9 August, where the battery recycling industry, through ABRI has been invited to participate. The ABRI Submission to NSW Industry Policy Consultation_Final (1) highlighted the above priorities. Please let Katharine know if there are other matters on behalf of industry that you’d like progressed at this or through other government engagement sessions.

2. NATIONAL HEAVY VEHICLE REGULATOR – WASTE & RECYCLING INDUSTRY LOAD MANAGEMENT CODE OF PRACTICE – WILL THIS HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

A Proposed Waste and Recycling Code of Practice for Load Management may have implications for you and/or your transport companies, especially the proposed processes for risk management of hazardous loads (Part 3). By Monday 1 August, let the ABRI Secretariat know if the proposed Code raises issues for your business by emailing the ABRI Secretariat. Your comments will be used to inform co-ordinated battery recycling industry feedback to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator who is developing the Code of Practice.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator is developing the Code of Practice to assist waste and recycling industry operators better manage the safety of their load management practices and to comply with the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). The HVNL regulates heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass and covers areas of operation including safety duties and vehicle operations around standards, safety and loading.

A Code of Practice has an evidentiary function when a court is called on to determine whether a party in the Chain of Responsibility, or an executive, has discharged their obligation under HVNL. A Code of Practice is to be read and used as a supplement to the Master Industry Code of Practice (Master Code).

The proposed new Code of Practice will provide additional information about risks and controls that are specific to the waste industry but does not replace the Master Code. It offers practical guidance for all industry parties who have obligations under the HVNL. It may also serve as a guide for training or as a point of reference for entities in the waste material supply chain negotiating how to share responsibilities.

3. NEXT STEPS FOR BSC B-CYCLE CONSULTATION SESSIONS WITH ABRI MEMBERS

The B-cycle Q2 update on 28 July will provide insights into used battery collection rates under the scheme and a discussion of the priorities and work program for streamlining scheme operations.

B-cycle has been hugely successful in garnering support from over 60 battery importers and retailers, and consolidating collection of used consumer batteries, through the establishment of over 2,500 drop off points. It has also built a strong foundation for scheme awareness.

The first six months of B-cycle operation has presented opportunities for improving business processes for scheme operation, such as auditing and data recording. BSC will now work through these with the eight accredited B-cycle collectors, sorters and recyclers to improve business efficiencies for all parties operating within the scheme.

B-cycle is unique amongst battery stewardship schemes and consequently scheme start-up has identified areas for streamlining operations. This will support expected growth in collection of used mixed batteries and work volumes over coming quarters as scheme awareness continues to build and more drop off points come on board.

You may have seen that this week’s BSC B-cycle consultation session with ABRI members was cancelled to avoid duplication of meetings. Following BSC’s 28th July session, any queries not discussed shall be identified and addressed as needed through future BSC B-cycle consultation sessions with ABRI members.

As always, you can reach out to ABRI CEO, Katharine Hole, or ABRI President, Ben Pritchard, concerning B-cycle. ABRI has two positions on the BSC Board, held by the ABRI President and Vice President, which is another opportunity for ABRI to engage with B-cycle developments.

4. JOIN A PARTNERSHIP WITH CSIRO TO SUPPORT BATTERY RECYCLING RESEARCH

There is an opportunity for battery recyclers to be part of a CSIRO funded project to support a PhD student carry out research on topics related to your business, for example how to reduce energy use, recover more minerals or improve safety.

Interested ABRI Members will need to participate in an EOI process, which remains open until 4 September. Key points:

• The CSIRO will provide a supervisor, base scholarship of $33,000 p.a. and project operating expenses of up to $13,000 p.a. over 4 years
• Industry partners must be an Australian company or a company with an Australian operation
• The PhD student will be co-supervised by an Australian University. CSIRO, the industry partner or the student can arrange with a university of their choice
• The Industry partner will need to contribute $12,000 p.a. top up scholarship over 4 years, host a 6-month internship, and provide a supervisor throughout the project
• PhD candidates must be Australian citizens or permanent residents [TBC]

To participate in this program, please contact Yanyan Zhao, Research Scientist, at the CSRIO via email or call her on 0421 508 305. Yanyan can provide you with the detailed program requirements and further information.

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