A new battery recycling scheme aims to redirect 90 percent of used power cells away from landfills for recycling into the circular economy.
Launched last week, the B-cycle Scheme is a Battery Stewardship Council (BSC) initiative that was enabled by a $1 million investment from the Commonwealth government.
The scheme comprises 2351 drop-off points at ALDI, Bunnings, Officeworks, and Woolworths outlets. Further collection points, including at Coles, are expected to be added over the coming months as more battery collectors and recyclers become accredited.
Federal Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans was at the virtual launch and said: “All Australians can help the move to a circular economy by taking their used batteries including household batteries, power tool batteries, camera batteries, and e-bike batteries to participating drop-off points”.
The BSC’s members include Energizer, Duracell, Panasonic, Super Retail Group, Milwaukee, Stanley, Black & Decker, and Makita.
Organisations wanting to become battery stewards or set up a drop-off point can find out more at the B-cycle website. The website also allows consumers to enter their postcode to find their nearest drop-off point.