Australia Creates 3,300 Tonnes Of Lithium-Ion Battery Waste A Year: Here’s What We Are Doing About It

Australia Creates 3,300 Tonnes Of Lithium-Ion Battery Waste A Year: Here’s What We Are Doing About It

A new CSIRO report reveals Australia’s potential to be a world leader in re-using and recycling lithium-ion battery waste.

Aussies create 3,300 tonnes of lithium-ion battery waste every year, with that figure growing by 20 per cent year on year, tipped to reach 100,000 tonnes by 2036. The demand for lithium-ion technology is only increasing – but we are only recycling two per cent of what we throw out. By comparison, of the 150,000 tonnes of lead-acid batteries sold in 2010, 98 per cent were recycled.

If recycled, 95 per cent of components of lithium-ion batteries can be turned into new batteries or used in other industries.

So what can we do to get everyone recycling?

The CSIRO says low battery recycling rates can be overcome through better understanding of the importance of recycling, improved collection processes, and by implementing ways to efficiently recycle materials. An effective recycling industry could also stabilise global lithium supplies to meet consumer demand, the report points out.

The majority of Australia’s battery waste is shipped overseas, and the waste that remains left in landfill, leading to a potential fires, environmental contamination, and risk to human health.

CSIRO research is supporting recycling efforts, with research underway on processes for recovery of metals and materials, development of new battery materials, and support for the circular economy around battery reuse and recycling.

“As a world leader in the adoption of solar and battery systems, we must responsibly manage our use of lithium-ion technology in support of our clean energy future; CSIRO has set out a pathway to do this,” CSIRO battery research leader Dr Anand Bhatt said. “The value for Australia is three-fold. We can draw additional value from existing materials, minimise impact on our environment, and also catalyse a new industry in lithium-ion re-use/recycling.”

Dr Bhatt and his team are working with industry to develop processes that can support the transition to domestic recycling of lithium-ion batteries.

“The development of processes to effectively and efficiently recycle these batteries can generate a new industry in Australia. Further, effective recycling of lithium batteries can offset the current concerns around lithium security,” Dr Bhatt said.

Australian Battery Recycling Initiative CEO Libby Chaplin said the report came at a critical time.

“Currently we are racing towards a world where lithium batteries are a very big part of our energy supply, yet we have some real work to do to ensure we are able to recycle the end product once it has reached its use by date,” Ms Chaplin said.

“The CSIRO report provides critical information at an opportune time given the discussions around how to shape a product stewardship scheme for the energy storage sector.”

The report also found that research, government and industry must work closely to develop standards and best-practice solutions to this issue.


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