Reclaiming precious battery materials

Victoria’s ability to process hazardous waste and recover and reprocess critical materials is expanding thanks to a $4.95 million investment through Sustainability Victoria’s Circular Economy Infrastructure Fund: Hazardous Waste on behalf of the Victorian Government.

Two of the successful businesses, Ecobatt located in Campbellfield and Enviropacific Services in Stawell, will construct infrastructure aimed at processing and reclaiming valuable materials from Lithium-ion batteries. Among these materials are aluminium, copper, steel, and the highly sought-after 'black mass', which comprises precious elements like cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphene.

Many personal electronic items including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, electric toothbrushes and tools typically contain lithium-ion batteries.

Given Australia only processes a small quantity of Lithium-ion battery waste, these facilities will play an important role in boosting Victoria’s ability to reprocess hazardous and valuable battery materials previously sent to landfill.

This investment is being delivered under the circular economy policy, Recycling Victoria: a new economy.

Across the 3 funding rounds, Sustainability Victoria is supporting a total of 6 projects which will recover a wide range of hazardous wastes and contribute to the Victorian economy by leveraging $43.5 million of industry investment and creating 53 ongoing jobs.

Learn more about the Circular Economy Infrastructure Fund: Hazardous Waste – Round 3 fund recipients.