EcoCycle to open first dedicated Battery-In-Device Shredding plant

EcoCycle leads Australia’s response to rising battery-in-device waste with a scalable onshore solution.

E-waste recycler EcoCycle is set to open the nation’s first dedicated Battery-In-Device Shredding (BIDS) plant in Melbourne by September 2025, in what it describes as a significant step forward for Australia’s circular economy.

The ground-breaking facility, based at EcoCycle’s Campbellfield headquarters, is designed to process the increasing volume of embedded battery waste, including mixed lithium batteries, from products such as vapes, toys, power tools, wearables, mobile phones, and novelty items.

Nick Dodd, EcoCycle General Manager, says the BIDS plant marks a major evolution in how Australia handles battery-containing devices at end of life.

With a strong emphasis on safe, onshore processing, the new plant aims to reduce environmental risk and maximise material recovery.

It’s the first step in EcoCycle’s bid to provide scalable, future-ready solutions for one of the fastest-growing and most hazardous waste streams, with BIDS plants also planned for Western Australia, Queensland and New Zealand.

In another Australian first, EcoBatt, a subsidiary within the EcoCycle Group, will open a dedicated lithium battery recycling plant in early 2026.

Meeting a growing threat

Australia generates thousands of tonnes of battery-powered products each year, many of which end up in landfill or kerbside bins, posing significant fire and contamination risks.

Nick says the absence of dedicated infrastructure for recovering batteries embedded in devices has long been a gap in the national recycling system.

EcoCycle’s investment in BIDS technology is set to bridge that gap.

“This isn’t just about recycling batteries, it’s about rethinking how we manage products at the end of their life,” he says.

“Australians are buying more battery-powered items than ever before, and many of these are small, embedded, and difficult to dismantle. The BIDS plant will allow us to safely and efficiently process these products and reclaim the valuable materials.”

The Battery-In-Device-Shredder is a world-leading solution designed to safely recycle both loose and embedded batteries. Using a wet, flooded shred and separation process with advanced environmental controls, it mechanically separates battery-containing devices into plastic, metal, and black mass fractions, recovering critical minerals vital to the circular economy.

Nick says this world-first, patent-pending technology has been designed and developed by specialist engineers, in close collaboration with EcoBatt’s experienced team, to meet global market needs.

With an exclusive Australasian agreement secured, the Michigan-based manufacturing team is now in full production, fulfilling orders for international clients.

The plant is engineered to 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. It also incorporates comprehensive fire suppression systems, pressure release mechanisms, and safety protocols to mitigate the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.

The Battery-In-Device Shredding (BIDS) plant at EcoCycle’s Campbellfield headquarters is scheduled to open in September 2025. Image: EcoCycle

Pioneering onshore processing

Historically, much of Australia’s complex battery waste has been stockpiled or thrown in wheelie bins, taken away in rubbish trucks to recycling centres and/or landfills due to a lack of domestic processing options.

This has resulted in a significant increase of fires in waste and recycling centres, an issue that must be urgently addressed, and stopped.

Nick says EcoCycle’s BIDS plant signals a crucial shift towards localised recycling, retaining valuable materials within Australia’s economy.

“We’re proud to be investing in domestic capability,” says Spyro, National Partnerships Manager at EcoCycle.

“The BIDS plant is part of a broader strategy that includes our Lithium Battery Recycling plant, due to come online in 2026. Together, they form the foundation of Australia’s next generation of materials recovery infrastructure.”

The Campbellfield site will also serve as a national centre for training, research and development, and industry collaboration – supporting regulators, councils, manufacturers, and technology providers in the safe handling, discharging, and dismantling of battery-containing products and mixed batteries.

Aligning with national priorities

As Australia sharpens its focus on critical minerals, green metals, circular economy outcomes, and sovereign processing capability, battery recycling is rising on the national agenda. Batteries are increasingly seen as essential to energy security, electrification, and national resilience.

Spyro says EcoBatt is well placed to meet these goals with more than 7500 drop-off locations nationwide, a fleet of dangerous goods (DG)-licensed vehicles and DG-licensed drivers, a network of industry-leading battery collection bins fitted with smart sensors, heat detection, GPS tracking and fill-level monitoring.

“The BIDS plant is the logical next step in strengthening our domestic recycling infrastructure,” he says.

“It expands our operational capacity and introduces a critical pathway for processing embedded batteries that have previously gone unmanaged.”

Engineering a safer future

With increasing concerns about fires in collection bins, transport vehicles, transfer stations, material recovery facilities, and landfills, safety is a priority for councils, retailers, and the waste industry at large. Improper battery disposal continues to be a significant hazard.

“We’ve seen firsthand the risks posed by lithium batteries when they’re mishandled,” says Nick. “That’s why we’ve designed this facility with multiple safety layers, not just for our team, but for the wider communities we serve.”

The plant will operate under stringent Environment Protection Authority licensing and include proprietary safety systems developed in-house by EcoCycle’s engineering team. Features include real-time monitoring, temperature sensors, and enclosed processing zones to minimise risk while maximising recovery.

Looking ahead

As demand for battery-powered products continues to accelerate, so too does the urgency for robust end-of-life solutions. Nick says EcoCycle’s BIDS plant arrives at a pivotal moment, not just providing the tools to manage this growing waste stream but setting a new benchmark in battery recycling innovation.

“This is about future-proofing our recycling industry,” says Nick. “We’re making sure Australia has the infrastructure it needs to deal with tomorrow’s waste, today.”