The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted interim authorisation for the Battery Stewardship Council to continue.
The authorisation gives the BSC board the ability to adjust levies and rebates in anticipation of a full re-authorisation decision in September.
Libby Chaplin, Chief Executive Officer of the Battery Stewardship Council said that with the renewed backing, BSC can maintain momentum on several critical fronts. This includes ensuring battery collection and recycling rates do not fall, reducing fire risks in homes and waste management facilities caused by improper disposal, and increasing public safety around hazardous button batteries.
“Button batteries pose a unique and serious risk, particularly to children. As part of our national strategy, we’re working to ensure public awareness continues to grow,” Chaplin said.
“This interim authorisation supports our ability to scale that strategy and protect more families across Australia.”
The BSC, established in 2018, aims to build and sustain a strong battery stewardship community, supporting Australia’s transition to a circular economy. Its flagship initiative, the B-cycle Scheme, is Australia’s first nationwide, government-backed battery stewardship scheme, facilitating safe and accessible battery recycling for consumers across metropolitan, regional, and remote areas.
Launched in 2022, B-cycle is authorised by the ACCC and supported by the federal, state and ferritory governments.
Enhancements to the B-cycle Scheme
Under the ACCC’s decision, BSC can adjust its weight-based levy as funding allows, in line with changes to the Consumer Price Index since the scheme began.
This ensures that as volumes of recycled batteries increase – due to greater awareness and participation in B-cycle – BSC can continue to support processing. Changes to the levy will include a three-month notification period to industry.
BSC will also be able to progress the development of a new eco-modulated levy framework designed to align contributions with the environmental and safety impacts of different battery types.
This will ensure that rebates provided to scheme participants accurately reflect the actual costs of safe collection, sorting, and processing and aims to incentivise recycling outcomes by rewarding processing performance.
“The ACCC’s decision supports our efforts to future proof the Battery Stewardship Scheme and deliver long-term circularity and resource security outcomes,” Chaplin said Chaplin.
“The eco-modulated levy framework represents a significant shift to a proactive approach to addressing the varying environmental and safety profiles of batteries, ensuring that our scheme can adapt in response to changing economic conditions and technological advancements.”
Mandatory participation needed to lift safety standards
BSC continues to advocate for a nationally consistent, mandatory participation in product stewardship for all battery types.
“We value the industry support for our interim application, including Powercell, Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association of NSW, Australian Council of Recycling, and EcoBatt, who also made it clear that mandating participation is essential to eliminate free riders, level the playing field, and ensure all participants in the scheme work together to contribute fairly to safe recycling outcomes,” Chaplin said.
“The approval of the ACCC in granting this interim authorisation enables BSC to take pivotal steps forward in our ongoing efforts to improve battery stewardship including to increase safe diversion of batteries from landfill, improve recovery rates, reduce environmental risks, and foster innovation within the industry.
“We look forward to continuing our collaboration with all stakeholders to achieve these goals.”
For more information, visit: www.bcycle.com.au
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