B-cycle has long advocated for facilitating safe and accessible battery recycling for consumers across metropolitan, regional, and remote areas and is pleased to say progress has finally been made.
After years of campaigning for a nationally consistent, mandatory approach to battery stewardship, Battery Stewardship Council (BSC) has welcomed the passing of the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill in New South Wales.
The legislation, passed on Friday 28 March 2025, is being hailed as a landmark step in ensuring all battery brand owners contribute to safe and responsible end-of-life management.
Under the new law, battery brand owners will be required to participate in a regulated product stewardship scheme, ensuring responsible end-of-life management of batteries.
B-cycle, BSC’s flagship initiative, is Australia’s official battery recycling scheme. Libby Chaplin, Chief Executive Officer, says B-cycle is well-positioned to participate in the new framework and help businesses navigate compliance.
“This legislation is a turning point, not just for New South Wales, but for battery stewardship in Australia,” she says.
“B-cycle believes the legislation marks the beginning of a more sustainable and safer battery stewardship in Australia able to reduce risk across the life cycle of the battery.”
Millions of batteries enter Australia’s waste stream annually, posing fire and environmental risks, despite household battery recycling having increased to 36 per cent in 2024, rising from 33 per cent in 2023 and 25 per cent in 2021.
Unsafe used battery disposal is a leading cause of waste facility fires in Australia, endangering workers and infrastructure.
Libby says it’s time to put a stop to the dangers, and this legislation marks an historic shift in the right direction.
It also addresses a major challenge B-cycle has faced since its inception – free riders.
“Free riders are companies that have avoided voluntary participation, limiting the scheme’s overall effectiveness,” she says.
“This legislation provides the framework to build a truly national, circular system for battery recovery and delivers a level playing field, ensuring all battery brand owners contribute fairly.”
Libby says B-cycle has worked closely with the New South Wales Government and stakeholders during the development of the legislation, sharing data, risk insights, and practical experience from the operation side of things.
The next step for the government is to finalise the battery regulation, which will set out the detailed requirements for how brands and the scheme must operate.
“Our long-term goal has always been to help shape a stewardship framework that can be effectively implemented and scaled nationally,” Libby says.
“B-cycle will continue to work closely with the New South Wales Government on this journey.”
As the state navigates a new chapter, Libby says B-cycle will play a crucial role in supporting industry compliance, expanding collection networks, enhancing customer education and continually advocating for national consistency.
“Once battery brand owners join the B-cycle scheme, they will gain access to the knowledge and systems they need to comply with the new stewardship obligations,” says Libby.
“We will facilitate this and strengthen our collection infrastructure to meet increased demand for facilities.”
She says the scheme will also align public messaging with government fire risk reduction campaigns to promote safe battery disposal and collaborate with other state, territory and national governments to ensure a harmonised approach to battery stewardship across Australia.
Imminent change
Following the Bill’s passing, Libby says B-cycle has seen an increased engagement from both industry and government.
“Brand owners are seeking guidance to understand their future obligations, and discussions are underway to strengthen collection infrastructure and consumer education in anticipation of broader regulation,” she says. “The New South Wales Act has been drafted specifically so it can be adopted by other jurisdictions, and we see this as a pivotal opportunity for national alignment.”
She says a harmonised approach will reduce administrative complexity for industry, improve safety outcomes, and enhance the effectiveness of battery recovery across the country.
“We have been engaging with other state and territory governments to encourage consistent adoption,” she says.
“Conversations with state and federal governments have focused on alignment, compliance support, and the role of schemes like B-cycle in delivering a smooth transition. We simply can’t afford to avoid nationally harmonised regulation.”
Libby says a shared recognition that battery fire risks, environmental pressures, and growing battery volumes require coordinated national action was highlighted at the December Environment Ministers Meeting (EMM), which had a strong focus on battery safety.
“Following the meeting, the New South Wales Government has taken decisive leadership, and other jurisdictions are actively engaged in these discussions,” she says.
B-cycle 2.0
In December 2024, B-cycle unveiled the final design for its updated framework B-cycle 2.0 – a strategic expansion of the scheme, designed to meet growing demand.
B-cycle 2.0 was developed over 12 months of extensive consultation and cross-sector collaboration.
Libby says it introduces bold strategic measures to improve safety and ensure a sustainable funding model while expanding access to accommodate all portable batteries, enhance data and reporting systems, and a deeper alignment with government priorities around safety, access, and circularity.
“The battery revolution is transforming our lives but also presents unprecedented challenges,” she says.
“This new scheme design ensures we can address today’s safety and environmental risks while building a sustainable future for how batteries are managed across their entire life cycle.”
The most notable change from the updated scheme is the potential to include an extended scope of materials. With the introduction of regulation, the new scheme design enables B-cycle to expand its scope to include other products such as vapes, small electronics, and larger portable batteries up to 60 kilograms.
Proactive measures to mitigate lithium-ion battery fire risks in waste and recycling systems is also in the framework, as well as targeted funding for public awareness campaigns and infrastructure improvements to drive improvements and behavioural change.
Libby says with 716 accredited organisations and recyclers already part of the network, B-cycle 2.0 will empower its participants with the tools, funding, and support needed to achieve sustainable and scalable success.
“Regulation is undeniably essential for the long-term success of battery stewardship and circularity,” she says.
“B-cycle 2.0 has been specifically designed for this regulatory shift, ensuring all players contribute to the safety, sustainability, and accelerated diversion.”
As a not-for-profit organisation, BSC is guided by its constitution, which provides a governance framework with an independent chair, independent directors, and directors – with expertise across the supply chain, including recyclers.
Libby says B-cycle 2.0 has been designed in response to eight months of consultation and to address critical issues highlighted by the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) and the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR).
“This strong governance framework has been vital in the development of the new scheme and ensures BSC is well-positioned to deliver on B-cycle 2.0’s ambitious goals,” she says. “BSC fully aligns with the waste industry concerns about growing risks and will continue to champion decisive government action to make battery stewardship mandatory.”
BSC is calling on all parties to back the reform to protect public safety, reduce environmental harm, and build a circular economy for batteries.
“B-cycle is ready to support industry and government as we move into this new phase,” says Libby. “We remain committed to making it easy and safe for all Australians to recycle their batteries, no matter where they live.”
For more information, visit: www.bcycle.com.au
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