The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) recently published such a survey. The survey points out that as the demand for batteries and energy storage rises, so does the consumption of lithium-ion batteries, as reflected in the following statistics about Australia:
Only 2% of Australia's 3,300 tons of lithium-ion battery waste is recycled each year.
Battery waste is rising at a rate of 20% per year and could exceed 100,000 tonnes by 2036
if lithium-ion batteries could be recycled, 95% of the components could be made into new batteries or used in other industries.
In comparison, 98% of the 150,000 tons of lead-acid batteries sold from 2010 onwards have been recycled
Most of Australia's battery waste is shipped overseas, with the rest left in landfills, and these can lead to potential fires and environmental pollution.
A report titled "Lithium-ion Battery Recycling in Australia" (LithiumbatteryrecyclinginAustralia) points to a growing demand for lithium-ion technology. The report said Australia could become a world leader in lithium-ion battery recovery and recycling. It is reported that Australia has implemented a ban on electronic waste to landfill this month, but for now, it will take some effort to become a world leader in battery recycling.
The report mentions that the low battery recycling rate can be overcome by reinforcing the importance of recycling, improving the collection process and implementing methods to effectively recycle materials, and that an effective recycling industry may also stabilize the global supply of lithium to meet consumer demand.
Envirostream, Australia's first company to recycle lithium-ion batteries, was officially established last year and specializes in developing safe, innovative disposal solutions for battery recycling and disposal issues. Envirostream is understood to have spent $2 million on a plant in NewGisborne, north of Melbourne, and recycled 298,240 KG of lithium-ion batteries in 2018.
Envirostream's lithium-ion battery recycling
According to the latest news, South Korean lithium-ion battery manufacturer LG Chem (LGChem) has formed a partnership with Envirostream, and the two are working together to develop safe, innovative recycling solutions to reduce battery waste. With LG Chem's support, Australia's battery recycling system is expected to be taken to a whole new level.
According to Envirostream's ISO14001 certification module, 95% of battery waste resources can be safely recycled and then sent to relevant metal and battery manufacturers for conversion into new battery raw materials, an initiative that is both environmentally friendly and brings a true circular economy to Australia. To this end, LG Chem Australia's Managing Director Jamie Allen said:- "We want to start supplying an opportunity to expand sustainable options for the disposal of lithium-ion batteries from Australia."
In addition to the widespread use of ternary batteries for electric passenger cars, energy storage power plants, for example foreign lithium-ion batteries are mainly ternary, which contains precious metals is the benefit of recycling, while China uses more lithium-iron phosphate ion batteries, lithium iron phosphate does not contain heavy metals, recycling benefits are not high, so it is difficult to enhance the company's enthusiasm for recycling, although China is a lithium-ion battery recycling "big", but as soon as possible to improve policy guidance, the And Australia the same to establish an effective and comprehensive recycling industry, in the long run is a good policy.
