The Federal Government has awarded a $1 million grant to the Battery Stewardship Council through the National Product Stewardship Investment Fund.
Making the announcement at Woolworths in Burwood, Victoria, Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the grant will support the development and implementation of an accredited and industry-led stewardship scheme for handheld batteries.
“Australian’s are throwing away around 17,000 tonnes of batteries every year, with the vast majority winding up in landfill where they corrode over time, leaking harmful chemicals into the soil and potentially causing fires that can burn underground for years,” Ley said.
“We know consumers are committed to recycling, but the focus has been on kerbside glass, paper and plastic with very few of us knowing how to properly dispose of our household batteries.”
Battery Stewardship Council CEO Libby Chaplin said the funding will enable the Battery Stewardship Council and its partners to lay the foundations and build a national scheme in Australia.
“Today’s announcement sends a clear signal to industry to have the confidence to invest in green jobs, and, the infrastructure necessary to ensure that collected batteries are safely and responsibly recycled,” she said.
“We are calling for battery manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers to join the BSC and participate in the new Battery Stewardship Scheme.”
Supermarket chain Woolworths, one of the largest businesses signing up to the scheme so far, will start the roll-out of their battery collection pods across their 1000 stores this week.
“Convenience is often one of the key elements to changing consumer behaviour, so it is wonderful to see Woolworths joining other member organisations like Officeworks in providing their customers drop off points for used batteries,” Ley said.
Federal Member for Chisholm Gladys Liu joined the Minister at Burwood in her electorate, congratulating Woolworths on its commitment to keeping batteries out of landfill.
“Businesses who produce, sell and use battery products have a shared responsibility to manage these products throughout their lifecycle, including at disposal,” she said.
“I am pleased to be in my own electorate today to see one of the first Woolworths battery deposit pods – the roll-out of these pods will make the disposal of batteries simple and convenient for consumers, leading to a safer, cleaner environment.”
Adrian Cullen, Head of Sustainability for Woolworths Supermarkets said the retailer’s presence in hundreds of communities across the country offered a unique opportunity to make battery recycling more accessible to Australians.
“We’re introducing new battery and mobile phone recycling units in every Woolworths supermarket to create the largest network of drop-off points in Australia and help communities responsibly recycle these common household items,” he said.
“Sustainability is an increasing priority for many of our customers and together we can work towards a better tomorrow by making sustainable product disposal part of an everyday routine when you visit your local supermarket.”
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