B-cycle calls for regulation to boost battery recycling

The operator of Australia’s B-cycle battery recycling scheme, the Battery Stewardship Council (BSC), has called for government regulation to boost the country’s recycling and materials recovery efforts.

The call came with the release of the B-cycle 2024 Positive Charge Report which showed 2,935 tonnes of used batteries were collected in 20241 – a 24 percent increase from the previous year.

Since the scheme was launched in 2022 it has recycled over 6.2 million kilograms of batteries.

The latest report also show an improvement in recovery rates, with 73 percent of materials from recycled batteries being recovered and repurposed into second-life products.

B-cycle CEO Libby Chaplin said while the numbers were encouraging, the urgency for continued action remains.

Chaplin said: “We are calling on governments to introduce regulation to ensure all battery importers join B-cycle and contribute funding to responsibly manage Australian batteries.”

The scheme’s collection rate of 15.3 percent, reflecting the proportion of batteries collected versus those available for recycling, underscores the need for ongoing innovation and regulation to increase participation.

“These achievements are a testament to the transformative efforts of Australian households, industry participants, and government partners.

“But the battery revolution we are experiencing is accelerating fast, and so too must our systems for managing the risks and opportunities that come with it.”

The BSC said the next step in developing the scheme was to raise consumer awareness and expand collection and recycling efforts.

A critical factor in B-cycle’s growth has been the expansion of its Drop off network, which now includes more than 5,200 locations across Australia.

This accessibility has helped drive a shift in behaviour, with 36 percent of Australian households now recycling batteries regularly, compared to just 25 percent in 2021.

With a Placed-on-Market (PoM) collection rate of 14.7 percent in its second year, the scheme has outperformed Europe’s 10.7 percent at a comparable stage of development.

“This is proof that Australia can lead the world in battery stewardship,” Chaplin said.

“Our approach demonstrates that ​​industry-led programmes, when done right, can deliver impactful outcomes while supporting industry growth.”

Picture: B-cycle