Victoria is now home to a first of its kind battery recycling facility that will process batteries found in household items and divert over 8,000 tonnes of waste per year from landfill thanks to the Allan Labor Government.
Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos today announced the opening of the first dedicated battery-in-device shredding plant in Australia that will recover up to 95 percent of metals, plastics, and valuable critical metals for further recycling.
The ground-breaking facility will safely process embedded battery waste from everyday products like toys, power tools, laptops and mobile phones, addressing one of Australia's fastest growing and most hazardous waste streams.
EcoCycle has received $2 million in funding from the Allan Labor Government's Circular Economy Infrastructure Fund: Hazardous Waste - Round 3, to establish the country's first dedicated Battery-In-Device Shredding (BIDS) plant in Campbellfield.
Australia uses thousands of tonnes of battery-powered products each year, many of which end up in landfill, posing significant fire and contamination risks.
In Victoria the disposal of batteries and e-waste in landfill has been banned since 1 July 2019, but as these items grow in popularity investing in new facilities like EcoCycle is critical to reducing waste.
Using an innovative water-based shredding system to safely break down battery-powered devices, the new facility can handle a wide range of devices, with automated shredding and separation systems capable of processing everything from button cells in greeting cards to rechargeable packs in tools and e-mobility products.
This world-leading technology will be able to process up to one tonne of embedded batteries every hour and divert up to 8,064 tonnes per year from landfill.
Round 4 of the Circular Economy Hazardous Waste Fund is currently open and closes on the 1 December 2025, for more information visit sustainability.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos
"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."
"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."
As stated by Member for Broadmeadows Kathleen Matthews-Ward
"We're proud to support EcoCycle's battery recycling facility, it's a win for our environment, for local jobs and our economy."
