NSW passes legislation to mandate battery recycling

The passing of the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill in New South Wales is said to mark a historic shift in battery recycling, moving from a voluntary stewardship model to a mandatory, government-regulated framework.

The Battery Stewardship Council (BSC), which oversees B-cycle, Australia’s official battery recycling scheme, welcomes this legislative change, as it is said to have profound implications for B-cycle and the broader product stewardship landscape.

Under the new law, battery brand owners will be required to participate in a regulated product stewardship scheme, ensuring responsible end-of-life management of batteries. This long-awaited move addresses a major challenge that B-cycle has faced: the issue of ‘free riders’ — companies that have avoided voluntary participation, limiting the scheme’s overall effectiveness.

What this legislation means for battery recycling in NSW:

• Mandatory product stewardship: The NSW Government will now have the authority to enforce battery stewardship, ensuring all brand owners contribute to safe and responsible recycling.
• Stronger enforcement for non-compliance: Battery importers and manufacturers who fail to meet their obligations face fines of up to $880,000, incentivising widespread participation.
• Focus on fire risk reduction: The Bill recognises the dangers of battery fires in waste and recycling streams, reinforcing the need for safe disposal and consumer education initiatives.
• Expanded scope to embedded batteries: The regulation extends to batteries found in vapes, power tools and e-bikes, requiring new collection and recycling solutions.
• Enabling of existing stewardship schemes: To access much-needed funding to cover the cost of collection and recycling of an ever-increasing number of batteries.
   

As B-cycle is well-positioned to participate in the new framework and help businesses navigate compliance, the organisation will work closely with the NSW Government to:

• Support industry compliance: By joining the B-cycle scheme, battery brand owners will gain access to the knowledge and systems they need to comply with the new stewardship obligations.
• Expand collection networks: To meet increased demand, B-cycle will strengthen its collection infrastructure, including solutions for embedded batteries.
• Enhance consumer education: The scheme will align public messaging with government fire risk reduction campaigns to promote safe battery disposal.
• Advocate for national consistency: B-cycle will collaborate with other state and territory governments and the Commonwealth to ensure a harmonised approach to battery stewardship across Australia.
   

“This legislation marks a turning point for battery stewardship in Australia,” said Libby Chaplin, CEO at B-cycle. “We at the BSC have long advocated for a mandatory approach to ensure all businesses contribute to responsible battery disposal. The NSW Government’s leadership in this space will drive higher recovery rates, greater safety and a more sustainable battery lifecycle. In practice this means BSC will have much needed funds to pay for the collection and recycling of batteries received at our comprehensive network of drop-off points.”

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