The document summarizes the future of battery stewardship in Australia. It discusses how battery usage is increasing significantly and current recycling rates are very low. If no action is taken, over 100,000 tonnes of batteries could be wasted annually by 2036. The summary calls all stakeholders - including government, industry, and individuals - to work together to establish a voluntary battery stewardship program with light regulation. This would help ensure battery safety, protect the environment, and invest in recycling jobs. With collective action, the future for battery stewardship in Australia can be bright.

1. The
Future
of
Batteries
May 9th, 2017
Libby Chaplin
ABRI, CEO

2. ABRI is a group of battery
manufacturers, recyclers, retailers,
government bodies & environment groups
It is our vision to achieve
battery stewardship
in Australia
Shared responsibility for the
environmental management of
batteries at every stage of the
product life cycle
Research, advocacy, education
& stakeholder engagement

3. About us
Life Cycle
Management
ZERO IMPACT
Recovery
at End of Life
ZERO WASTE
Safety
ZERO HARM

4. What does the future look like?
What does the future of batteries look like?
It looks
BIG

5. Batteries are part of our daily lives

6. The Life Cycle of Batteries
Adapted from Florin, N
et al, PV Systems
Stewardship Workshop:
Stakeholder Workshop
Synthesis (Prepare by
UTS Institute for
Sustainable Futures for
QLD Department of
Environment and
Heritage Protection:
2016).

7. Drivers for battery stewardship

8. Setting the scene – battery recovery rates
In 2012-13, an estimated 400 million
handheld batteries, weighing 17,500
tonnes, were sold into the Australian market
14,700 tonnes reached their end-of-life that year
(SRU, 2014) We only recycled 2.7 % of them
✓ We recycle 90% of lead acid batteries

9. Setting the scene – waste battery projections
 Lithium ion batteries projected to increase
by 300% in by 2019-2020(SRU, 2014)
Sealed lead acid batteries projected to increase by 50%
in by 2019-2020
Nickel metal hydride & Nickel cadmium acid batteries
are projected to increase by 25% in by 2019-2020
Alkaline and acid batteries are projected to increase by 15% in by 2019-2020

10. Randell
Environmental
Consulting Pty Ltd &
Blue Environment
for the Hazardous
Waste Section
Department of the
Environment
July 2016
Waste lithium-ion battery projections
Tonnes
This is
where we
are going
NOW
187,000 tonnes

11. What does that look like in 2036?
The report predicts we will be wasting 100 – 187,000 tonnes of batteries each year by 2036
The Opera House weighs 165,000 tonnes

12. We know the environmental impact
 Loss of valuable resources
 Life cycle impact
 Raw materials extraction
 Materials processing
 Product manufacture
 Product use
 Final disposition/end of life
 Impact of greenhouse emissions
We know the community impact
 Batteries contain hazardous
materials
 Button cell injuries
 ACCC estimates 5 children each week
visit Emergency Departments with
suspected exposure to button batteries
 Fire
 Devices
 Uncontrolled recycling activities
 Burden on infrastructure & industry
 Landfills
 Battery export is not efficient
 Impact of illegal export
Why is this not OK?
https://www.productsafety.gov.au/news/button-battery-national-strategy

13. Where does Australia sit internationally in
non lead acid battery recycling?
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%

14. “most Australians don’t mind
paying a little more for
rechargeable batteries to
cover their recycling.
Only about 10% of Australians
wouldn’t pay extra”
Pollinate & Planet Ark consumer survey: 2016
Most
Australian’s
want to
recycle
batteries

15. ABRI’s efforts to
achieve
Battery Stewardship

16. Button Cell Project
Hearing Care
Industry
Association
Key supporters
Key partners

17. Technical guidance

18. Action Required
Australian efforts at Battery Stewardship
have been slow to emerge
Australia US Europe
Japan

19. Industry Working Group Battery Trials
Provided information about
 Consumer willingness to
recycle
 Trailing different
communication options
 Market share – recovery
rates by brand
 Contamination
 Testing of collection
channels
 Provided snapshot of
possible program costs
 Tested concerns about
‘free-riding’ from non
participating brands

20. National Product Stewardship Act
 The Australian Government has listed batteries as a priority
product under the Product Stewardship Act
 Intended to provide certainty to community & business on
products being considered for inclusion under the Act
 Act identifies products being considered for accreditation
or regulation, before regulations are introduced
 The product list serves as this notice
 The Government established the battery reference group
& an Industry Working Group to facilitate a
voluntary program 

21.  Cost Sharing essential
 Address free riding concerns
 Government (Federal/State)
 To cover free rider costs in short term
 Ensure that participating brands & retailers
are not disadvantaged
 Government (State/Local)
 Investment in collection infrastructure
 Industry
 Powertool & Non Powertool contributions
based on market share
 Retailers
 Powertool retailers agree to only sell
participating brands
 Contribute in case or in kind to collections
 Phased approach
 Power-tools first 2-4 yrs then non-power-tools
IWG - Financial Options Study & IWG conclusions
BIGGEST CHALLENGES
Federal government
commitment
Brand commitment
Free rider concerns

22.  Prohibits battery producers from selling primary batteries in Vermont unless
 They participate in approved stewardship plan providing free collection & recycling
 Call2Recycle is the product stewardship organization
 Collects batteries on behalf of Industry stewards (brands and retailers), who pay:
 Deposit paid within 30 days of signing the Agreement
 Budgeted start up fees
 Based on industry steward market share by weight
 Levied to meet start-up expenses incurred for the program launch
 Ongoing costs based on sales by weight into the Vermont marketplace
 Industry Stewards report quarterly on estimated Vermont sales for the previous 1/4
 Estimates of primary batteries sold in Vermont based on pro rata calculation of national sales
 Reality is that by providing collection sites & education, recovery follows
Case in Point: Vermont
State based Extended Producer Responsibility law

23. Lessons learned
Success relies on
Convenient
drop off locations
&
Coordinated
communication &
awareness

24. Randell
Environmental
Consulting Pty Ltd &
Blue Environment
for the Hazardous
Waste Section
Department of the
Environment
July 2016
Our action to manage this emerging waste stream – NOW!
Tonnes
This is
where we
are going
NOW
187,000 tonnes
137,000 tonnes

25. What does that look like in 2036?
The report predicts we will be wasting 137 – 187,000 tonnes of batteries each year by 2036
The Opera House weighs 165,000 tonnes

26. The Future of Batteries
can be Bright
Action Required
Australia

27. Call to Action
 Commit to creation of a voluntary
stewardship program with light regulation
to ensure participation
 Provide centralized messaging & information
 Streamlining hazardous waste permit process
 Show leadership & direction to enable a level
playing field
Most industry players will only participate if
 Their competitors are in
 It will not disadvantage them
 The can avoid future heavy regulation
Federal
Government

28. Call to Action
 Encourage Federal government to commit to
creation of a voluntary stewardship program
with light regulation to ensure participation
 Expand state based programs, particularly if
federal government does not take action
Landfill bans & levies
Zero waste strategies
Purchasing preferences – buy recyclable!
Waste regulations (Retailers & Brands)
Producer responsibility legislation – take back
Pilot programs
Invest in industry development/innovation
Promote battery safety and recovery
 Contact ABRI to get involved in National efforts
State
Government

29. Call to Action
 Are at the front line & will foot the bill for landfill
 Encourage Federal government to commit to
creation of a voluntary stewardship program
with light regulation to ensure participation
 Local government programs, particularly if
federal government does not take action
 Continue with local collections and drop offs
 Landfill bans
 Buy recyclable batteries
 Promote existing programs to their residents
 Contact ABRI to get involved in National efforts
 Join ABRI!
Local
Government

30. Research
 Understanding batteries flows
 Understanding market share
 Exploring new technologies
 Testing options and pilots
 Harnessing best practice
Knowledge is power!
Government
&
Academic
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Switzerland
Luxemburg
Belgium
Lithuania
Poland
Netherlands
Finland
Portugal
Czechrepublic
Italy
Estonia
Malta
Ontario*
California
Australia

31. Call to Action
 Show leadership
Get involved in National efforts - contact ABRI
Establishing product stewardship policies
Establishing battery back programs
 Encourage Federal government to commit to
creation of a voluntary stewardship program
with light regulation to ensure participation
Highlighting challenges of an unlevel playing field
Encouraging govt address free rider issue
 JOIN ABRI!
Brands
&
Retailers
Potential
product
stewards

32. Call to Action
Organizations
 Buy recyclable batteries
 Particularly for energy storage
 Check with suppliers
 Talk to battery suppliers
 About take back and recycling
 Particularly if you are a big use of single use
batteries, e.g. CFAs
 Most batteries are labeled so businesses can
find out what type they are
 ABRI website has a direct link to companies
who recycle
 Simply click on the type of battery you are looking
for and up comes the list
 JOIN ABRI! http://www.batteryrecycling.org.au/recycling

33. Call to Action
 Ask your local retailers
Some retailers such as
Batteryworld, Ikea, & Aldi stores
offer take back services and some
Bunnings stores in Victoria
 PlanetArk website
Select your post code &
material you want to
recycle
Local solutions at the click
of a button
 EXITcycle website
Recycling NiCd
exit/emergency lighting
batteries
Individuals
http://recyclingnearyou.com.au

34. The future for real battery
stewardship can be a reality!
Australia
Together
We can improve safety
We can protect the environment
Invest in green jobs and local recyclers
Libby Chaplin

35. The
Circular Economy
in the
Asia Pacific Region