In a world-first, EcoBatt’s new Victorian shredding plant is tackling the hidden hazard of batteries embedded in devices, creating a safer waste stream.
EcoBatt, a subsidiary of the EcoCycle Group, has officially opened the world’s first Battery-in-Device Shredding (BIDS) Plant in Campbellfield, Victoria, marking a significant step forward in how Australia manages embedded battery waste.
On 3 September, Victorian Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos joined EcoCycle Group Chief Executive Officer Doug Rowe to officially open the plant, which has been supported by the Circular Economy Infrastructure Fund – Hazardous Waste. The fund is delivered by Sustainability Victoria under the Victorian Government’s circular economy plan, Recycling Victoria: a new economy.
Addressing the crowd, the minister said the new plant represents a clear example of how government and industry can work together to deliver solutions with lasting impact.
“This project shows how investment in recycling infrastructure can deliver real results for our circular economy and keep batteries charging our economy throughout their life cycle,” he said.
Doug said the project shows how smart investment in recycling infrastructure delivers genuine outcomes for the circular economy.
“Our innovation is enabling Victoria to lead the way in managing hazardous waste safely and sustainably.”
Addressing a hidden hazard
Australia’s appetite for battery-powered products is increasing. Phones, toys, vapes, power tools, light-up sneakers, robot vacuums, and countless other items contain batteries that are often discarded with the battery still embedded in the device.
When these devices end up in household waste or kerbside recycling, they pose serious risks. Fires linked to lithium-ion batteries have grown significantly, with incidents recorded in collection trucks, transfer stations, metal recycling yards, and material recovery facilities across the country.
Alongside fire risks, batteries and embedded batteries that reach landfill can leak toxic materials into the environment.
Doug says the BIDS Plant was designed to address these challenges directly.
“Loose batteries have established pathways for safe recycling, but embedded batteries have remained a gap. This plant fills that gap. It takes the risk out of the waste system and ensures valuable materials are recovered responsibly,” he says.
How the plant works
The facility combines controlled discharge systems with automated shredding and separation. Devices are neutralised to eliminate fire hazards, then mechanically processed into plastics, metals, and black mass containing critical minerals such as lithium, graphite, cobalt, nickel, manganese and zinc.
By treating both the batteries and the surrounding materials, the plant supports circular economy outcomes while improving safety for the waste sector and the wider community.
Doug says the BIDS Plant demonstrates that Australia has the capability to deliver world-leading recycling solutions.
“This facility shows that we can build the infrastructure needed to deal with modern waste streams onshore, at scale, and to the highest standards of safety,” he says. “It’s happening now.”
The benefits
The BIDS Plant adds a new layer to EcoBatt’s national collection and processing network, which already includes more than 7500 battery drop-off points, United Nations and Dangerous Goods-rated bins, drums and kiosks, and a fleet of dangerous goods-licensed vehicles.
By integrating the new plant into this network, EcoBatt can now manage the full spectrum of batteries – from standalone cells to those embedded in complex devices.
Doug says the plant reduces the risk of fire incidents caused by incorrectly discarded batteries for local councils and waste operators. For the community, it offers assurance that there is a safe pathway for everyday products that were previously difficult to recycle. For industry, it provides certainty that processing can occur onshore, without reliance on export markets.
“This is a win across the board,” he says. “It improves safety, protects the environment, and helps Australia keep hold of the resources that will be vital to future industries.
“We must stop e-waste, embedded batteries and loose batteries being exported with permits. Tens of millions of dollars have been invested to process this problem waste onshore, and one would expect the government would want to support that.”
Call for education
While the infrastructure now exists, Doug says its success relies on people knowing how and where to correctly dispose of batteries and embedded battery products.
“The community is willing to do the right thing, but awareness remains low. We need clear, consistent education so that people understand where to take their devices and why it matters,” he says.
“The Australian public is willing to pay for great recycling solutions – rather than the cost of rebuilding waste and recycling facilities destroyed by preventable battery fires from loose and embedded lithium batteries.”
EcoBatt has invested heavily in collection systems, including smart bins, fire-rated drums and monitored kiosks. However, Doug says government support is essential to drive national education campaigns that reach households, schools and businesses.
“Every time a battery goes into general waste, it is a missed opportunity and a risk created. The more people know, the safer and more sustainable the system becomes,” he says.
Policy support
The opening served as a platform for Doug to renew calls for a strong national stewardship framework to underpin the system and ensure it becomes commercially viable.
“We now have the collection points, the safe transport systems, and the processing capacity – including this world-first facility,” he says. “What we need is a strong, government-supported extended producer responsibility scheme that ensures the industry contribute fairly with the correct Equivalent Battery Unit rates.”
Looking ahead
The BIDS Plant will process up to 5000 tonnes of devices annually, providing a scalable model that can be expanded nationally. Plants in other states and New Zealand are planned for 2026.
For EcoBatt, the new plant represents more than a milestone. It’s part of a broader strategy to create a complete, closed-loop battery recycling system across Australasia.
“This is a major step forward for onshore processing in Australia,” Doug says. “It demonstrates what is possible when industry invests and when government provides support. With the right policy settings, government backing, and community participation, Australia can lead the way in closing the loop on one of the fastest-growing waste streams of our generation.”
For more information, visit: www.ecobatt.com.au
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