Scheme Set For Launch In 2022
Lithium Australia NL (ASX: LIT) and its 90%-owned subsidiary Envirostream Australia Pty Ltd have welcomed the recent release by the Battery Stewardship Council (‘BSC’) of a factsheet for battery recycling.
The BSC factsheet covers numerous aspects of battery recycling, as well as details of funding and of the Scheme itself.
Designed to promote battery recycling and ensure the safety of same, the Scheme will establish a national network of drop-off sites, making it simple and convenient for consumers to return spent batteries for recycling.
The Scheme is set to launch in January 2022.
“The Scheme is vital to improving Australia’s battery recycling rates, which currently sit at around 10% – a very low figure in comparison to other countries,” Envirosteam MD Andrew Mackenzie said.
“At Envirostream, we’re developing mixed-battery collection systems designed for convenience and approved for safety and the mitigation of environmental risk.”
Currently in Australia, the majority of spent batteries are relegated to landfill, where they have the potential to pollute the environment, including waterways. The low rate of battery recycling nationally means that Australia lags behind many other countries in this regard. Under the Scheme, approved entities with be paid to collect and recycle hazardous and toxic spent batteries.
In anticipation of the launch of the Scheme, Envirostream has received approvals for its 6-kg and 12-kg storage and transportation boxes (pictured below and designed to hold both lithium-ion and alkaline batteries), in accordance with the Dangerous Goods (Transport by Road or Rail) Regulations 2018: Testing Facility Certificate Numbers 8908A and 8910A. Receipt of these, an Australian first, indicates that Envirostream has complied with all the conditions listed in the approvals process.
