World-first battery recycling plant opens in Melbourne batt

[Oscar]

World-first battery recycling plant opens in Melbourne battery recycling

By Liam Taylor - Planet Ark - September 3rd, 2025

EXCERPT: "Australia is taking a major step towards responsible battery recycling today with the launch of the world’s first ‘battery-in-devices shredding’ (BIDS) plant.

The new facility, operated by EcoBatt (a subsidiary of the EcoCycle Group), is designed to tackle one of the fastest-growing and most dangerous waste streams in the country: batteries embedded in everyday products. Found in phones, toys, vapes, power tools, toothbrushes, and even greeting cards, these hidden batteries can cause fires, explosions or leaks when disposed of in kerbside bins.

Supported by a $2 million grant from the Victorian Government’s Circular Economy Infrastructure Fund – Hazardous Waste, the plant uses specialised shredding and separation technology to extract batteries from devices and recover more than 90 per cent of valuable materials, including metals and plastics, for reuse. Capable of processing up to one tonne of devices per hour, the facility represents a critical piece of infrastructure in Australia’s transition to a circular economy.

EcoCycle Group CEO Doug Rowe said the launch represents a turning point for battery recycling in Australia. . . . ."

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