Battery recycling body backs NSW bill, urges nationwide approach

Australia’s battery recycling scheme, B-cycle, has thrown its support behind landmark NSW legislation that would introduce mandatory battery product stewardship in response to growing fire risks from lithium-ion batteries.

The Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill, introduced to Parliament on Tuesday by NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, aims to ensure all battery producers and importers take responsibility for the full life cycle of their products.

“This is a pivotal moment for battery recycling in Australia,” said Libby Chaplin, CEO of B-cycle. “We’ve been calling for stronger regulation for some time now to eliminate free riders and ensure safe and sustainable battery disposal.”

The Battery Stewardship Council (BSC), which oversees B-cycle, is urging bipartisan support for the bill, warning that without enforceable regulation, too many companies avoid responsibility for battery recovery.

According to Fire and Rescue NSW, lithium-ion batteries are now the fastest-growing fire risk in the state, with over 300 incidents recorded in the past year. These batteries have been linked to an escalating number of waste and recycling fires, raising concerns from fire authorities, industry and local councils.

“This bill sets a new national benchmark,” Chaplin said. “It finally holds industry accountable for ensuring safe and responsible battery disposal.”

While commending NSW for taking the lead, BSC is calling for other states and the Federal Government to follow suit to create a harmonised national framework for battery recycling.

“This reform can’t stop at the NSW border,” Chaplin said. “We need a nationally consistent approach to product stewardship, so businesses, recyclers, and consumers are not dealing with a fragmented system.”

Launched in 2022, B-cycle is Australia’s first nationwide, government-backed battery stewardship scheme, facilitating battery recycling across metropolitan, regional and remote areas.

Picture source: B Cycle LinkedIn