Battery recycling plant opens in Melbourne
EcoBatt, a subsidiary of the EcoCycle Group, has opened a Lithium Battery and Battery-in-Devices Shredding (BIDS) Plant in Campbellfield, Melbourne.
The Hon Steve Dimopoulos MP, Victorian Minister for Environment, joined EcoCycle Group CEO Doug Rowe to officially open the soon to be operational plant, which has been supported by a $2 million grant from the Circular Economy Infrastructure Fund — Hazardous Waste.
The new facility uses specialised shredding and separation technology to extract batteries from devices and recover more than 90% of valuable materials, including metals and plastics, for reuse.
Capable of processing up to one tonne of devices per hour, the plant sets a new benchmark for battery safety and recycling infrastructure.
Doug Rowe, CEO of the EcoCycle Group, said the launch marks a turning point for battery recycling in Australia.
“Every home has products with hidden batteries, and until now there hasn’t been a dedicated way to recover them at scale. This plant gives Australians confidence that when they recycle, those batteries are managed safely, onshore and responsibly,” Rowe said.
Spyro Kalos, National Partnerships Manager ANZ, said the new facility responds to urgent calls from government, industry, retailers and the public.
“Battery fires are now a weekly headline, too often we see them in rubbish trucks, recycling yards and transfer stations. Our partners want real solutions. This new plant delivers them, turning problem waste into recovered resources, ready for refinement and reuse.”
EcoBatt has built the solution for embedded battery waste, but it will only succeed with strong extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy in place.
Industry and community must also play their part, and that begins with choosing the right bin.
EcoBatt already operates Australia’s largest battery collection network, with around 7500 public drop-off points; UN-rated kiosks, bins and drums; and a dedicated company-owned fleet for transport.
The new BIDS Plant builds on that system, ensuring batteries are not only collected but also safely processed and recycled onshore.
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