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ABRI Member Bulletin ~ 8 July 2021

Members Bulletin – upcoming events and regulatory/policy/funding developments

Register for ABRI workshop with CSIRO (28 July) – Classifying batteries to inform environmental and safety policy and regulatory outcomes
ABRI Festival of Ideas – setting strategic priorities – 24 or 25 August – indicate a preference
Updates on Victoria and NSW regulatory and waste tracking initiatives
Feedback on opportunities to streamline compliance & regulatory processes
Sign up to the ABRI LinkedIn page
ABRI General Meeting – 23 June – draft minutes

1. REGISTER FOR ABRI WORKSHOP WITH CSIRO (28 JULY) - CLASSIFYING BATTERIES TO INFORM ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY POLICY AND REGULATORY OUTCOMES

ABRI is working with the CSIRO to develop a framework to characterise battery types. This framework will look at the differences in environmental and safety characteristics and risks between batteries and their component parts (if disassembled) at end of life.

To inform the scope of works for this project ABRI and CSIRO are hosting a workshop on 28 July (10am to 12pm). If you are interested in joining this workshop, please register in advance for this meeting at
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErdOutpjwuHdFeEHg3Q9ZzUL-dPvB5F1hc

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

This framework will also be used to inform and provide an evidence base for underpinning outcomes focused regulation for safe collection, storage and transport of battery technologies.

It will also be used to inform the research needs and solutions work proposed by CSIRO in its publication Australian Landscape for Lithium Ion Battery Recycling and Reuse in 2020 – Current Status, Gap Analysis and Industry Perspectives. In that publication, CSIRO recommended undertaking research and solutions for battery fire safety risks during collection, transportation and storage including development of solutions to deal with broken, damaged, overcharged or overheated LIBs.

If you would like to discuss further, please contact Katharine Hole, CEO, ABRI via email at secretariat@batteryrecycling.org.au.

2. ABRI FESTIVAL OF IDEAS - SETTING STRATEGIC PRIORITIES - 24 OR 25 AUGUST - INDICATE A PREFERENCE

The Festival of Ideas will be held in August with discussion to focus on short and long term priorities for ABRI. This will be against the background of a shifting:

structure in the battery sector, including rapidly growing lithium ion battery uptake in the energy and automotive sectors, and increasing innovation in battery technology; and
policy dialogue which is focusing on product stewardship and circular economy across the entire battery supply chain.

The Festival of Ideas will be in Sydney and support face-to-face and online attendance. The event format will be flexible given sudden and shifting COVID restrictions.

It is proposed to hold either Tuesday 24 August (afternoon session) or Wednesday 25 August (morning session) to fit in with those attending the Australian Waste and Recycling Expo in Sydney (25-26 August).

Email the ABRI secretariat (secretariat@batteryrecycing.org.au) if you have a preference for a particular date.

The ABRI secretariat is also looking for an event sponsor to host a drinks session (Tuesday 24 August) or light lunch session (Wednesday 25 August) following the event.

3. UPDATES ON VICTORIA AND NSW REGULATORY AND WASTE TRACKING PROJECTS

Victoria – Battery guidelines, new environmental protection framework and waste tracking

ABRI is working with the Vic EPA to set up a briefing on the battery industry guidelines being developed to support implementation of the new Vic environmental protection framework. Further details will be provided in the coming weeks.

Thanks to those members who have sent comments and questions to inform this briefing. There is still an opportunity to send through comments for collation ahead of the briefing.

The EPA has issued a Statement of Regulatory Intent that outlines the approach the EPA will take to ensure you achieve compliance with the new environmental duties. This statement includes information about what you can expect when an EPA officer visits your business, including how they will assess whether or not you’re discharging your obligations to prevent harm to the environment and human health.

Further information is available on activities requiring a licence, permit or registration, including the date by which a permission is required, see EPA check if you need a permission and licensing/permits. The EPA has also released guidance including meeting reportable priority waste duties, and information on Waste Tracker. Learn how to sign up to waste tracker here.

Victoria – Change to reporting frequency for premises with dangerous goods

The Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Amendment (Notification) Regulations 2021 (Amendment Regulations) commenced on 1 July 2021 and will require increased reporting frequency for premises with dangerous goods. The Amendment Regulations are available on the Victorian Legislation website. Further information and an online notification form are available on the WorkSafe Victoria website.

NSW Hazardous Waste Tracking System

Katharine Hole, ABRI CEO, is meeting with the NSW EPA to discuss their Hazardous Waste Tracking System (HWTS) project on Monday 12 July. Further information will be provided to members following this meeting.

4. FEEDBACK ON OPPORTUNITIES TO STREAMLINE COMPLIANCE AND REGULATORY PROCESSES

To assist with work that ABRI is undertaking through the Heads of EPA Australia and New Zealand (HEPA) National Waste Working Group, please send through comments and suggestions you have for streamlining regulatory processes. For example, how could your reporting obligations be improved to reduce the administrative burden and still deliver environmental and safety outcomes.

ABRI has written to HEPA seeking engagement with all jurisdictions on opportunities for streamlining regulatory processes to support improved information on the battery recycling industry and reduce business costs. Member examples of where regulatory processes could be streamlined will help provide an evidence base for ABRI to present to HEPA on where improvements could be made.

By way of background, HEPA is an informal alliance of environmental regulation leaders from Australia and New Zealand. Its principal members are:

Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA VIC) – Secretariat
Environment Protection Authority New Zealand – Chair
Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
Environment Protection Authority South Australia
NSW Environment Protection Authority
Queensland Department of Environment and Science
Western Australian Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
Western Australian Environment Protection Authority
Environment Protection Authority Tasmania
Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority
Environment Protection Authority ACT

5. SIGN UP TO THE ABRI LINKEDIN PAGE

If you are interested in regular updates on ABRI and general battery recycling industry news, please follow the ABRI LinkedIn page – Australian Battery Recycling Initiative linkedin.com/company/3777430/

6. ABRI GENERAL MEETING - 23 JUNE - DRAFT MINUTES

The DRAFT minutes from the 23 June ABRI General Meeting are available here DRAFT_ABRI General Meeting Minutes_210623 . The presentations to members at this meeting are now available at the members section of the ABRI website. These are the presentations from Energy Renaissance, Battery Stewardship Council and Department of Regional NSW. If you would like assistance with logging in, please contact the ABRI Secretariat at secretariat@batteryrecycling.org.au

Email secretariat@batteryrecyling.org.au

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