What is the future of lithium battery waste?
Lithium-ion batteries will play a pivotal role in our future energy needs, however we still have a long way to go when it comes to recycling them. Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable and used widely, from mobile phones and laptops to electric vehicles and solar panel systems. The demand for lithium-ion batteries is growing at a […]
Peak recycling body calls for battery governance program
Australia’s peak recycling body has called for a national battery recycling scheme to tackle the growing problem seriously and prevent batteries from exploding in recycling facilities. The Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) has urged the national and state governments to take immediate action and establish a national product stewardship and recycling scheme for handheld batteries. […]
Where can I recycle batteries in Victoria, Australia?
If you live in Victoria, households and businesses must recycle batteries after the state government banned all e-waste from landfill this year. The Victorian government introduced the ban in July 2019, meaning used batteries can no longer be thrown into your general waste or recycling bin at home. Battery waste is a major problem in […]
Lithium-ion battery recycling on the rise
Lithium-ion batteries have had a poor recycling record for years, however a new report shows lithium-ion battery recycling is advancing much more than we think. Lithium-ion batteries have become crucial to our daily lives, powering electric cars, smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices and machinery. While the production of lithium-ion batteries is set to explode […]
Why battery recyclers are becoming more important than ever
Battery recyclers will play an increasingly vital role in the future, as batteries power more and more parts of our lives. The battery market is expected to grow significantly in coming years, driven by rapidly evolving technologies like electric vehicles. For example, the lithium-ion battery market was worth more than US$37 billion in 2018, according […]
Are batteries recyclable?
When batteries run out of power or are no longer usable, recycling them helps protect the environment and recover precious resources to reuse in new products. We use batteries to power everything from watches to cars and even our homes, however they can contain toxic metals including cadmium, mercury and lead. The great news is […]
How to promote recycling in the workplace
Workplaces are taking recycling more seriously these days, but successful recycling programs hinge on staff engagement and making it as simple as possible. Companies and organisations, big and small, are implementing their own recycling activities to recover reusable materials and reduce what ends up in landfill. These efforts are not only good for the environment, […]
How to recycle a laptop battery
Laptops are part of everyday life, whether it’s for study, work or personal use, but what do you do with laptop batteries when they run out of juice? Laptops and their batteries can be recycled like most other types of modern electronic and electrical waste (e-waste). But that doesn’t mean you should throw your laptop […]
5 benefits of recycling your smartphone battery
When smartphone batteries reach the end of their useful life, they often end up in a drawer at home even though there are many advantages to recycling them. Smartphones have become everyday essentials for many of us, containing everything from our phone numbers to our banking details. While the lithium batteries that power our smartphones […]
Is it possible to recover 100% of metals when a battery is recycled?
Batteries are made up of metals, chemicals and other materials that may not seem reusable, however most things found in batteries can be recycled. Despite this, Australians recycle less than 3 per cent of all purchased batteries, meaning more than 14,000 tons of batteries end up in landfill each year. Battery recycling has many benefits, […]
How to properly dispose of lithium batteries
Lithium batteries power our smartphones, laptops and many other devices every day, so it’s important that we recycle the finite resources within them. Despite their name, lithium only accounts for about 2-3% of the total weight of a battery. As lithium is such a light material, it can provide higher power capacity through smaller and […]
5 benefits of recycling mercury-containing waste
Recycling mercury-containing waste goes a long way in protecting the environment, but did you know that there are additional benefits? Mercury is found in some surprising places around the home and workplace, including batteries, lighting, computers, televisions and even teeth fillings. While the mercury in these products are safely contained for everyday use, even a […]
How to recycle a lead-acid battery
Lead-acid batteries help you start your car each day, but what happens to them once they run out of juice? These batteries, which can also store energy for off-grid solar power systems, among other uses, can be recycled into parts for new batteries. Lead-acid batteries are highly recyclable, with many countries achieving recycling rates of […]
South Australia’s second big battery charges up at Dalrymple substation
South Australia’s first big battery, the biggest lithium battery in the world, in fact, went online in December 2017. It was manufactured by Tesla, and came with the famous promise from Elon Musk that it would be installed within 100 days of signing the agreement, or it would be free. (As it turned out, it […]
How public libraries in Australia are running their own battery recycling schemes
From Sydney to Geelong, through South Australia and Western Australia, libraries are getting in on the battery recycling act. Their focus is on the collection of small, domestic batteries such as: Cell-type batteries – AAA, AA, C and D alkaline and carbon batteries Button batteries from calculators, watches and many toys 9-volt batteries (commonly used […]
5 benefits of recycling batteries
You probably know that it’s a good idea to recycle your spent batteries, but are you aware of the many benefits resulting from battery recycling? The Australian Battery Recycling Initiative has put together a list that’s worth keeping in mind every time you’re faced with the choice of recycling your old batteries or disposing of […]
How a workplace battery recycling program can save your business money
Less than 10% of batteries sold in Australia each year are recycled, with the rest ending up in landfill. That’s crazy, and not just from an environmental point of view. It overlooks the financial benefits that businesses can gain from recycling batteries. Some benefits are obvious, while others are less so. 1. Reduced landfill costs […]
How Australian hotels are running their own battery recycling schemes
What do Accor, Hilton, Crown, Mercure and Langham have in common? Sure, they’re all high profile hotel chains, but what most people don’t know is that they also run their own battery recycling schemes. That’s great because hotels go through more batteries than you might imagine. Every room has a TV remote control, bedside clock […]
Ecocycle joins Exitcycle and Lighting Council Australia in panel discussion
Ecocycle Business Development Manager, Mr Daryl Moyle, recently presented to the battery recycling industry at a Lighting Council of Australia (LCA) hosted panel discussion. The focus of the discussion was on how to lift the rate of battery recycling under the LCA’s industry-led battery recycling program Exitcycle. The initiative aims to increase the recycling rate […]
Australia could lead the way with lithium-ion battery recycling, says CSIRO report
A recent report from CSIRO, Lithium battery recycling in Australia, found that a local lithium-ion battery recycling industry is both economically and environmentally achievable. The report indicates that Australia could be the world leader for the re-use and recycling of lithium-ion batteries. However, the creation of an onshore recycling industry will rely on a number […]
What happens to your smartphone battery when it is sent for recycling?
Lithium batteries mainly comprise iron, cobalt, nickel, copper and aluminium. Despite their name, lithium only makes up 2-3% of the weight of the battery, in part because it is such a light metal. The content of metals in phone batteries is up to 100 times higher than it is in the ores extracted by mining. […]
Can I recycle smoke alarms?
Smoke alarms (or smoke detectors) are much like the millions of items of normal electrical and electronic waste that we generate each year. They are mostly made up of plastic, a bit of wiring, a few electronic components and a battery. The batteries at least are easily recycled, and should be removed from smoke alarms […]
Global automotive battery market to reach US$95 billion by 2025
A market research report from Million Insights predicts that in 2025 the global automotive battery market will be worth US$95.57 billion (AUD$129 billion). That will reflect a compound annual growth rate of 7.9 per cent, making the market in 2025 about 70 per cent bigger than it is today. The report considers all types of […]
Salt the key ingredient for cheaper, more efficient rechargeable batteries
Since lithium-ion batteries appeared on the market in 1991 they’ve revolutionised mobile computing, telecommunications and, increasingly, the delivery of electricity at grid scale. However, we still have a long way to go to create the perfect battery that, among other things, would be cheap, efficient, quick to charge and discharge, capable of storing a lot […]
How do I recycle old batteries?
Batteries are a growing waste problem. While many millions of batteries are sold in Australia each year, less than 5% get recycled. That’s quite disturbing. Some batteries contain toxic materials such as mercury and cadmium. Small (button) batteries are a choking hazard. Lithium batteries can cause fires, and on top of that batteries contain a […]
Will Australian lithium miners close the loop on lithium battery recycling?
Could Kwinana in Western Australia be to lithium what Silicon Valley is to information technology? With Australia being the world’s largest producer of lithium, a serious study has been made into developing a ‘Lithium Valley’ in WA. The study makes the case for using Australia’s bounty of lithium to build a local industry that is […]
Tesla’s lithium-ion battery in South Australia paves way for battery-led energy future
In December 2017 Victoria’s Loy Yang power station ‘tripped’ and went off-line. Within a fraction of a second the world’s largest lithium-ion battery, based in South Australia, stepped in to deliver 100 megawatts (MW) of power to the national electricity grid, averting the risk of power cuts and providing valuable time for slower generators to […]
Ecocycle charges ahead with battery recycling
Victoria will ban all electronic waste (including batteries) from landfill from July 2019. Other states are also moving in the same direction. Rising to the challenge of providing safe, environmentally sound alternatives to landfill, long-time battery recycling company Ecocycle has quietly been getting on with the job of expanding Australia’s capacity to recycle all types […]
Increase in waste and recycling facility fires linked to batteries
The hazards of disposing of batteries, particularly lithium batteries, in general waste have been highlighted by an increase in the number of fires in waste and recycling facilities in North America. In a breakdown in the causes of these fires in California, 65 per cent were due to batteries of some type, with 40 per […]
What can cinemas recycle?
Think of ‘cinemas’ and ‘recycling’ and the obvious things that come to mind are popcorn buckets and soft drink bottles. Coffee cups and choc-top wrappers also make up a large proportion of the waste generated by cinemas. But beyond these day-in-day-out waste streams there are other, more durable items that cinema managers should be recycling […]
What can retailers recycle?
Think of ‘cinemas’ and ‘recycling’ and the obvious things that come to mind are popcorn buckets and soft drink bottles. Coffee cups and choc-top wrappers also make up a large proportion of the waste generated by cinemas. But beyond these day-in-day-out waste streams there are other, more durable items that cinema managers should be recycling […]
Lithium-ion batteries shifting from first to second use in closed-loop solution, report finds
It’s early days yet in the move from an oil-fuelled economy to one that runs on batteries, but analysts are looking into their crystal balls in their attempts to anticipate what the future lifecycle of lithium-ion batteries will be. One such analysis by Creation Inn, a London-based energy storage and circular economy business development consultancy, […]
How does Ecocycle collect, transport, store and recycle batteries?
A key to successful recycling is to make it as easy as possible for everyone to get involved. Ecocycle kept this ideal in mind when developing its battery recycling program. First up, we take the guesswork out of battery recycling. Is it a battery? If the answer is yes, we can accept it for recycling. […]
What can national and public parks recycle?
Whether it’s a huge national park or a small local reserve, parks and gardens improve our wellbeing and play an important role in creating a healthy environment. While municipal parks may provide rubbish and recycling bins for use by the public, to stay neat and tidy more remote parks will often rely on visitors to […]
The dangers of forgotten batteries in old toys
Battery-powered toys are so common we barely give them or, more specifically their batteries, a second thought. Generally, the batteries contained in toys do their jobs quietly and safely, but not always. And the longer that batteries are left in old toys the more likely it is that problems will arise. Here are a few […]
How to safely use and dispose of batteries in your home
Batteries are used in dozens of devices around the home. While they deliver a high level of reliability and safety, they are not completely without hazards, so it’s important to understand how to safely use and dispose of batteries at home. Perhaps the most hazardous types of batteries are the small ones – the button […]
Ecocycle joins the Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (ABRI)
As a further demonstration of its commitment to battery recycling, Ecocycle has become a member of the Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (ABRI). Established in 2008, ABRI is a non-profit organisation that promotes environmentally responsible management of batteries at their end of life. Members include leading battery manufacturers, suppliers, recyclers and government and environmental organisations. As […]
Why Australia should implement a mandatory national battery recycling program
Cadmium exposure has been linked to a large number of illnesses, including kidney and cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Yet, it is estimated that 90 tonnes of this metal, in the form of used batteries, goes into Australian landfills each year. That’s just one reason why Australia needs a mandatory battery recycling program. Another good reason […]
Work On The Road? Here’s What You Can Recycle
An increasing number of people are working on the move, often aided by technology. Laptops, tablet computers and mobile phones are pretty much standard tools for any trade these days. On top of that, your average mobile worker may be packing an electric toothbrush and shaver, and depending on the ‘trade’, maybe a ute full […]
What’s The Difference Between Rechargeable And Regular Batteries?
There are many different types of batteries, both in rechargeable and regular (single use) form. Often you don’t get a choice as to which sort to use – modern mobile phones all rely on rechargeable batteries, for example – but what about those situations in which you do have a choice? The most commonly used […]
3 Household Products We’d Love To See Tackled On ABC’s War On Waste
Across three chilling episodes of the ABC series War On Waste, Craig Reucassel lifted the lid on several of Australia’s dirty little secrets. Sorry, make that dirty BIG secrets, because the amount of stuff we throw away every day is nothing less than shocking. War On Waste focused on high volume wastes including food, clothing, […]
What Are Councils Doing To Recycle Batteries?
Local councils are often at the forefront of recycling, and for decades they’ve been doing a great job collecting paper, cardboard, jam jars, steel cans and other everyday items that historically ended up in landfill. But there are other types of waste that councils could, and should, be recycling. Batteries are a good example. They […]
Innovative technology to make batteries safe and sustainable
Australian researchers are on the verge of producing a revolution in battery technology, promising to overcome the problems of exploding mobile phones and avoiding the pollution problems associated with conventional batteries. Add to that super-fast charging, low cost and the ability to deliver high quantities of power in very short time frames, and it sounds […]
Why Australia needs to recycle lithium batteries to keep up with demand
Lithium is the lightest of all metals, and that’s a key reason why lithium-based batteries are used in everything from phones to electric vehicles (EVs) to home and grid-scale storage batteries: more power capacity for less weight. And as the demand for gadgets, electric cars and home storage batteries begins to take off, a couple […]
Where to take batteries, globes and e-waste for recycling
Wouldn’t it be great if recycling batteries, lighting waste and electronic waste (e-waste) was as easy as recycling our plastic bottles and newspapers? Unfortunately, that’s not quite the case but with just a little extra effort it is possible to make sure all these types of waste, and the nasty things they contain, are responsibly […]
Battery recycling market expected to be worth USD $11.83bn by 2022
A recent report from marketsandmarkets.com forecasts that the global battery recycling market will grow from US$8.1 billion in 2016 to US$11.83 billion by 2022, an annual growth rate of 6.5%. Driving this growth is the increase in the number of batteries in use, and an expected tightening of environmental regulations by local and national governments. […]
Are rechargeable batteries recyclable?
Are rechargeable batteries recyclable? The short answer is ‘yes’. Actually, that’s pretty much the long answer too. Rechargeable batteries are just as recyclable as their non-rechargeable counterparts. In fact, good old 12-volt lead-acid car batteries enjoy a higher rate of recycling, over 95% in some countries, than any other type of battery. Waste-reduction champions Rechargeable […]
Recycling electric car batteries: How to recycle EV, HEV, PHEV and eBike batteries
A growing number of car manufacturers are incorporating electricity, in various ways, into their drivetrains. This has created new classes of vehicle with different battery sizes, types and acronyms, including: EVs (electric vehicles) run purely on battery power and are recharged from external sources of electricity – usually the electricity grid. They are also referred […]
What the rise of electric cars means for battery recycling
While pure electric vehicle (EV) sales have travelled a rocky road in Australia, it’s a different story for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Just 219 EVs were sold in Australia in 2016 versus more than 12,000 new HEVs. As more electric-only vehicles with longer ranges hit the market, and as their prices come down, EV sales […]
Battery recycling helps Australian businesses meet environmental targets
When businesses set environmental targets it isn’t simply for the warm glow of doing something good for the planet. It’s also good for the bottom line. For example, implementing the international environmental standard ISO 14001 provides benefits including a competitive and financial advantage, improved environmental performance by suppliers, and improved company reputation and the confidence […]
How Ecocycle collects and transports batteries
One of the keys to boosting recycling is to make the whole process as simple as possible. When it comes to hand-held batteries, only a small fraction are currently recycled. Most go into the rubbish bin, so to make it easier for people to get involved in battery recycling, Ecocycle pays a lot of attention […]
How EXITCYCLE and Ecocycle are recycling batteries from building exit signs
Illuminated exit signs are a critical safety feature of most commercial buildings. If the power goes out or in an emergency, the light from these signs may truly be a lifesaver. However, emergency and exit lighting does have a dark side. About 90% of the batteries that power these lights are nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd), meaning […]