Australia to lead the charge on lithium-ion battery recycling

A new battery recycling industry to tackle Australia’s annual 3,300 tonnes of lithium-ion battery waste could be on the cards, according to a new report by the national science agency.

The report, ‘Lithium battery recycling in Australia’, says the nation could lead the world in the re-use and recycling of lithium-ion batteries, addressing waste that is growing by 20 per cent each year.

The report addresses growing demand for lithium-ion technology, currently used in vast quantities in electronic and household devices.

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 says.

Only 2% of Australia’s annual 3,300 tonnes of lithium-ion battery waste is currently recycled.  This waste is growing by 20% per year and could exceed 100,000 tonnes by 2036.  By comparison, of the 150,000 tonnes of lead-acid batteries sold in 2010, 98% were recycled.

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.  If recycled, 95% of components can be turned into new batteries or used in other industries.

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.

CSIRO battery research leader Dr Anand Bhatt said: “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.”

“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 said.

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: “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.”

“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,” Chaplin said.

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