Recycling Power

1. DIRECT ENGAGEMENT CHANNEL FOR ABRI MEMBERS WITH THE BATTERY STEWARDSHIP SCHEME

ABRI Members have an opportunity to engage directly with the BSC on B-Cycle implementation and other scheme matters through fortnightly consultation sessions set up by ABRI until end 2021. Consultation sessions have not been set up yet for 2022 but are likely to continue as B-Cycle moves to the commencement phase.

The two sessions to date have covered:

• Meeting 1 (14 October) – Project schedule, process for developing B-Cycle guidelines, accreditation key dates & requirements, protection of IP sensitive information, marketing collateral. The presentation is available at BSC ABRI 20211014.
• Meeting 2 (18 October) – clarification of B-Cycle scheme participant roles, B-cycle Rebate payments and a discussion on guidance to households on disposal of damaged batteries. The presentation is available at BSC ABRI – UPDATED 20211028.

Feedback is also being sought on Proposed changes to ABRI website to improve the “How to find a recycler” search function. The proposed approach has the ABRI website assisting queries for commercial battery recycling services with the B-Cycle website to provide information for drop off of used batteries predominantly from households.

Please email (secretariat@batteryrecycling.org.au) the ABRI Secretariat, if you are interested in being part of an ABRI working group to contribute ABRI’s expertise on B-Cycle development.

2. SESSION 3 - B-CYCLE CONSULTATION WITH ABRI MEMBERS - 11 NOVEMBER

The third B-Cycle consultation session with ABRI members is scheduled for 11 November at 10am.

The proposed agenda is:

• Update on development of B-Cycle and ABRI guidelines
• Handling of damaged batteries guidance update
• B-cycle communications strategy
• B-cycle Tracking App (TBC)
• ABRI website changes

If you are not already part of this consultation process and/or would like the invitation extended to others in your organisation, please contact the ABRI (secretariat@batteryrecycling.org.au) to be included in the consultation sessions.

3. ABRI MEMBERS MEETING - SAVE THE DATE - 1 DECEMBER 2021 - ENHANCING MEMBER SERVICES AND SETTING FUTURE STRATEGIC DIRECTION

The ABRI Executive Committee is keen to engage with members to seek your input on opportunities for enhancing member services and collaborating on setting ABRI’s strategy direction. Further information will be forthcoming and, in the interim, can you please save the date.

While to face-to-face would be the preferred method to catch up, it is likely that the session will be virtual and involve break out groups to enable networking and detailed discussions.

4. RENEWING YOUR 2022 ABRI MEMBERSHIP - SUPPORT SAFETY, CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICE

Many thanks for contributing to the work of ABRI over 2022 through participation in forums, consultation sessions and generously sharing your industry knowledge, expertise and insights.

I look forward to seeing you at the 1 December members meeting and discussing how ABRI can assist you over the course of 2022 and beyond. Next year, will be a landmark year for the Australian battery recycling industry with the commencement of B-Cycle, Australia’s battery stewardship scheme.

Furthermore, as many of you will have seen through this week’s ABC news story the battery industry and consequently the recycling of batteries is undergoing rapid structural change with the growth of lithium battery use in cars and energy storage systems.

As the industry changes, I look forward to your continuing support of ABRI. The invoices for renewal of your ABRI membership will be sent out in November. If you need to adjust your fee level, please let the secretariat know.

For new ABRI members, who joined part way through 2021, your invoices will be adjusted to recognise that you have already paid a year’s membership.

Finally, I would like to thank you for making me welcome in my role of CEO. I’ve greatly enjoyed my first six months in the role and look forward to continuing to provide you with support.

Regards, Katharine Hole

5. ABRI SUBMISSION TO THE NTC CONSULTATION ON POLICY PAPERS FOR THE ECOSOC (UN) SUB-COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE TRANSPORT OF DANGEROUS GOODS

ABRI made a submission to the National Transport Commission (NTC) request for industry input on papers to be discussed at the November-December 2021 meeting of the ECOSOC (UN) Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.

The submission (see yellow sections) highlighted the need for urgent action to improve the framework around transport of lithium ion batteries.

Background

The agenda and supporting papers can be found here and a link to a summary of the papers provided by the National Transport Commission is available at UN59 TDG summary – for consultation.

Of particular interest to the battery recycling industry are agenda items on:

• Electric storage systems (agenda item 4) including focus on: testing of lithium ion batteries; hazard based system for classification of lithium batteries; transport provisions – proposed amendments to package instruction LP903; and damaged or defective lithium ion batteries; sodium ion batteries
• Guiding principles for the Model Regulations (agenda item 9)
• Issues relating to the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (agenda item 10)
• Unified interpretations of the Model Regulations (agenda item 11)
• Dangerous goods safety training and capacity building (agenda item 13).

The Sub-Committee process is a key decision making stage in amending the UN Model Regulations. Hence it is important for industry to advise the NTC on impacts and workability of proposed amendments.

Amendments made to the UN Model Regulations as a result of decisions made by the Sub-Committee are generally adopted into the ADG Code, as a matter of course, in the next update following each release of the UN Model Regulations.

The Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications (DIRDAC) represents Australia at the biannual meetings of the Sub-Committee and provides Australia’s official position on papers discussed at the meetings.  In forming the official Australian position, DIRDAC consult with a number of stakeholders, including the NTC.

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