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LITHIUM-ION BATTERY RECYCLING JOINT VENTURE UPDATE |
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Project developer Neometals Ltd (ASX: NMT) (“Neometals” or “the Company”) confirms an extension to the exclusivity period to allow finalisation of definitive legal agreements for the incorporation of the proposed lithium-ion battery (“LIB”) recycling joint venture (“JV”) with German company, SMS Group GmbH (“SMS”).
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WOOLWORTHS BATTERY & MOBILE PHONE RECYCLING UNIT TRIAL |
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E-waste is one of Australia’s fastest-growing waste streams. 345 million handheld and household batteries are used every year but 94% are not recycled and it is estimated that there are 24.5 million unused mobile phones being stored in homes around Australia. All batteries contain harmful substances that can damage the environment when improperly disposed into landfill.
As a responsible retailer, Woolworths has partnered with Ecobatt & MobileMuster to trial a household battery and mobile phone take-back scheme in seven (7) of their stores across NSW and Victoria until October 2020.
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GOVT’S PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT A TURNING POINT IN WASTE POLICY |
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July 29, 2020
The New Zealand Product Stewardship Council is delighted by the Government’s decision to declare tyres, electronic waste, plastic packaging, agrichemicals and their containers and refrigerants “priority products”.
“Today’s announcement represents a real turning point in how New Zealand manages the products that move through our economy” says Hannah Blumhardt, Coordinator of the New Zealand Product Stewardship Council.
Product stewardship schemes must now be developed for each of the declared priority products. Product stewardship puts greater responsibility on those who make and use products to reduce the waste and other environmental harm these products may cause over their lifecycle.
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LITHIUM AUSTRALIA STREAMLINES OPERATIONS |
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Lithium Australia NL (ASX: LIT, ‘the Company’) announced to the market on 20 July 2020 that it would focus on near-term cashflow during these uncertain economic times. Company subsidiary Soluna Australia Pty Ltd, which markets energy-storage products, has now achieved Australian certification for its residential batteries, meaning they can be grid-connected and will be eligible for government subsidies in certain Australian jurisdictions.
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PARTNERSHIP CALL: PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE |
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Through partnerships we can share our skills, expertise and resources to have a greater impact for waste management and resource recovery. Product stewardship encourages shared responsibility between producers, users and governments to manage the impacts of products through their life cycle.
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment are inviting suitably experienced and skilled entities to submit a partnering proposal to establish a Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence (CoE). This partner will work with the department to deliver, and achieve the outcomes of the Product Stewardship CoE. This includes supporting the development of new industry-led product stewardship schemes and improving recycling rates of existing product stewardship schemes.
The Australian Government will provide the successful partner seed funding of up to $1 million over three years from 2020–21 to 2022–23 to establish the Product Stewardship CoE (subject to the successful partner meeting the grant requirements). The grant forms part of the National Product Stewardship Investment Fund under the Australian Government’s $167 million Australian Recycling Investment Plan to increase Australia’s recycling rates, tackle plastic waste and litter, and halve food waste by 2030.
Proposals are due by 5pm AEST 4 August 2020
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HYDROGEN ENERGY RESEARCH CENTRE TO PLAY KEY ROLE IN AUSTRALIA’S ENERGY TRANSITION |
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UNSW Sydney and Providence Asset Group (PAG) have launched a first of its kind university-industry partnership in hydrogen technologies to translate leading university research into real-world, commercial products.
UNSW and PAG have founded the Hydrogen Energy Research Centre (HERC) to support Australia’s vision to become a major player in the global hydrogen market. In its National Hydrogen Strategy published November 2019, the federal government states its ambition for annual hydrogen exports to reach $10 billion by 2040.
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VISY ACQUIRES GLASS MANUFACTURER OWENS ILLINOIS |
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Australian recycling giant Visy has entered into an agreement to acquire the Australian and New Zealand glass manufacturing business of Owens Illinois (O-I).
The deal, worth almost $1 billion, is one of the biggest manufacturing acquisitions by an Australian-owned business in Australian business history. Visy would employ 7200 people in manufacturing jobs post acquisition.
Above: Chairman of Visy Industries and Pratt Industries Anthony Pratt
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HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING AN ABRI MEMBER? |
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ABRI members are actively involved at the forefront of developments in industry and government to address the rapid expansion in the market and ensure that solutions to battery stewardship are practical and far reaching. Together, we influence policy, participate in research, facilitate trials and develop best practices to ensure that battery handling and recovery options are safe, efficient and business friendly. Our members represent the entire supply chain – importers, retailers, energy providers, recyclers, as well as government and research. We rely on member support to provide the latest information, events, best practices and industry trends. If your organisation finds these activities relevant, now is a good time to become involved.
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BATTERY TRAINING COURSES WITH GSES |
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Global Sustainable Energy Solutions (GSES) are running a campaign on their batteries training this month including a short course, webinar and publication – click below to access the details.
The publication is used as a textbook for the Battery Storage accreditation course endorsed by the Clean Energy Council. The course is aimed at engineers and electricians who design and install PV Systems.
GSES also offer courses covering Grid- Connected PV systems, Energy Storage, Off-Grid Systems and many more. Click the link below to visit their website for information on training courses.
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BATTERY AND OTHER E-WASTE RECYCLING REPORT |
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This report reviews the global battery and e-waste recycling market according to its different product sources, recycled materials and geographical areas. The report examines the current market status of the recycling industry, public and private investment strategies, commercialisation and legislative initiatives, stakeholders’ activities, and also present growth forecasts for the period 2019-2024.
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NEW LITHIUM BATTERY CHARGES FASTER, REDUCES RISK OF DEVICE EXPLOSIONS |
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Cell phone batteries often heat up and at times, can burst into flames. In most cases, the culprit behind such incidents can be traced back to lithium batteries. Despite providing long-lasting electric currents that can keep devices powered up, lithium batteries can internally short circuit, heating up the device.
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NEW NIMH BATTERIES PERFORM BETTER WHEN MADE FROM RECYCLED OLD NIMH BATTERIES |
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A new method for recycling old batteries can provide better performing and cheaper rechargeable hydride batteries (NiMH) as shown in a new study by researchers at Stockholm University.
“The new method allows the upcycled material to be used directly in new battery production,” says Dag Noréus, professor at the Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry at Stockholm University who, together with other researchers, has conducted the study published in the scientific journal Molecules.
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COVID-19 AND BATTERY RECYCLING - GLOBAL MARKET TRAJECTORY & ANALYTICS |
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Global Battery Recycling Market to Reach US$13.7 Billion by the Year 2027
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Battery Recycling estimated at US$9.5 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$13.7 Billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.3% over the analysis period 2020-2027. Lead Acid, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 5.7% CAGR and reach US$8.5 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After an early analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Lithium-Based segment is readjusted to a revised 5% CAGR for the next 7-year period.
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BMW GROUP TO TAKE EV BATTERY RECYCLING RATE TO 96% |
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In the future, BMW Group and German recycling specialist Duesenfeld will recycle 96% of EV batteries.
By the way of announcing its sustainable strategy by 2030, the BMW Group said also that one of the key elements of its approach to the circular economy is recycling of high-voltage EV batteries.
The European Union currently requires recycling of at least 50% of high-voltage batteries and the industry average is probably not much higher than the requirement.
BMW Group, together with German recycling specialist Duesenfeld intend to “develop a method that can achieve a recycling rate of up to 96 percent – including graphite and electrolytes”. 96% is a huge improvement, almost on par with lead-acid batteries (99%).
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