Ecobatt’s Battery Safety Bin is a solution for safe storage and transportation of mixed household batteries.
Ecobatt is a pioneer in the Australian battery recycling industry, offering solutions to address the growing challenge of battery waste in Australia and the preservation of critical resources.
Founded on the principle of environmental stewardship, Ecobatt employs latest technology to ensure that batteries are recycled in a manner that minimises environmental impact and maximises resource recovery.
The company has emerged as a trusted name in household, micro-mobility, electric vehicle, and energy storage battery recycling of all chemistries.
Through advanced sorting and recycling processes, Ecobatt engages with downstream processors to recover valuable materials from alkaline and lithium-ion battery streams including lithium, cobalt, nickel, zinc, manganese, and a range of other metals, diverting them from landfills and reintroducing resources as green metals, in a rapidly growing circular economy.
The national recycling rate is estimated at 12 per cent for used household batteries. Ecobatt’s Zoltan Sekula says incorrect disposal of lithium-ion batteries in residential waste bins is believed to cause about three fires a day nationally.
However, Environment Protection Authority sources indicate that it is likely that small lithium-ion battery fires are under-reported.
“Kerbside waste collection vehicles, Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), transfer stations, and landfill operations are at a higher risk of thermal runaway events,” Zoltan says.
The Boxing Day 2022 fire that destroyed Canberra’s recycling plant, and a recent fire at a warehouse owned by French battery recycling group SNAM in Viviez, north of Toulouse, highlight the risk posed by lithium-ion batteries when accidently damaged.
“Kerbside waste compactors are at particular risk of adverse events, and public education must continue for the proper diversion of used household batteries from landfill.”
“The safe storage and transportation of bulk mixed used household batteries in appropriately certified bulk storage boxes, like Ecobatt’s range of ASP 600/800 galvanised steel boxes, can offer a safe solution in reducing the risk of battery fires developing into major adverse fire event.,” Zoltan says.
“When talking about collecting, storing, and transporting hazardous materials, there’s no room for compromise in safety.”
Ecobatt, with its range of products, provides safe collection and removal methods for not only the public, but also the industrial and local government sectors.
Designed to meet the stringent demands of storing and transporting mixed household batteries, Ecobatt’s ASP 600L/800L galvanised steel containers with lockable lids are not just battery safety bins but are certified intermediate bulk containers tailored for mixed lithium-ion batteries within packing groups as defined under the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (ADGC).
Zoltan says Ecobatt’s commitment to safety extends to its battery receptacles. The robust, hot-dip galvanised steel receptacles are constructed to German DIN 30741 standard, ensuring they are anti-sparking and non-incendiary – a crucial feature for the storage and transport of mixed lithium-ion batteries.
“This certification establishes them as the premium go-to solution in Europe for the packaging of mixed household batteries, encompassing all types of battery chemistries and cell groups referenced in the ADGC,” Zoltan says. “The ASP 600/800 4AX containers are certified as a steel box. This type of packaging is suitable for all groups of lithium batteries and cells mentioned in 4.1.4.1 of the ADR (guidelines for packaging).”
Ecobatt’s battery safety bins are weatherproof and permitted for active and passive storage when kept on a solid surface. The easy-opening lid with hinge-supported springs is lockable at two opening angles – 70 degrees and 270 degrees – for access, and can be secured with optional padlocks. The bins are stackable and movable by forklift or crane.
“Whether it’s transporting batteries for storage or recycling, handling bulk lithium-ion batteries can be problematic when their historic use is unknown,” Zoltan says.
“To ensure the safe transit of lithium-ion batteries throughout the supply chain, our bulk containers stand ready to deliver. Adverse battery events are contained within the container. In the rare case of a thermal runaway, a thermal temperature indicator is added to assist in first response situations of measurable temperature events.
“When used correctly, our ASP containers are designed to contain a fire until it is extinguished and preventing it from spreading to other areas.”
He says the ASP600 containers are preferred for retail deployment as they offer a 600-litre capacity, while the ASP800, with 800-litre capacity, is intended for industrial applications, transfer stations, landfills, and MRFs.
“With our containers, hazardous battery storage and safe transport becomes not just a necessity, but a seamlessly secure endeavour,” Zoltan says. “When you opt for Ecobatt, you’re choosing more than just a product – you’re choosing a partner dedicated to safeguarding your operations and ensuring the highest standards of safety.
“Excellence is not just a standard but a commitment.”
For more information, visit: www.ecobatt.net
