Victoria has just switched on a national first, with the opening of a dedicated battery-in-device shredding plant in Campbellfield. The state-of-the-art facility will process batteries found in everyday items and divert more than 8,000 tonnes of waste per year from landfill.
Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos officially launched the EcoCycle Battery-In-Device Shredding (BIDS) plant, which is designed to tackle one of Australia’s fastest growing and most hazardous waste streams.
Using a safe, water-based shredding process, the facility can recover up to 95 per cent of metals, plastics, and valuable critical materials from products like toys, laptops, power tools and mobile phones.
“Only 15 per cent of batteries are being recycled in Victoria and this Australian first facility will allow us to divert over 8000 tonnes per year from landfill and into our circular economy,” Minister Dimopoulos said.
“This project shows how investment in recycling infrastructure can deliver real results for our circular economy and keep batteries charging our economy throughout their lifecycle.”
The Campbellfield plant can process up to one tonne of embedded batteries every hour, safely dismantling devices ranging from tiny button cells in greeting cards to large rechargeable packs powering tools and e-mobility products.
