Wednesday, 3′ September 2025
EcoBatt opens world-first Battery-in-Devices Shredding (BIDS) Plant to tackle hidden battery danger
Australians are surrounded by hidden batteries. They are in phones, toys, vapes, power tools, electric toothbrushes, electric shavers, even greeting cards — and when thrown in the bin they can spark fires, cause explosions, or leak toxic materials into the environment.
Today, EcoBatt, subsidiary of the EcoCycle Group, has officially opened the nation’s first Lithium Battery and Battery-in-Devices Shredding (BIDS) Plant in Campbellfield, Melbourne, closing a critical gap and giving Australia a safe, onshore solution to a growing crisis.
The Hon Steve Dimopoulos MP, Victorian Minister for Environment, joined EcoCycle Group CEO Doug Rowe to officially open the soon to be operational plant, which has been supported by a $2 million grant from the Circular Economy Infrastructure Fund – Hazardous Waste. The Fund is delivered by Sustainability Victoria under the Victorian Government’s circular economy plan, Recycling Victoria: a new economy.
The new facility uses specialised shredding and separation technology to extract batteries from devices and recover more than 90 per cent of valuable materials, including metals and plastics, for reuse. Capable of processing up to one tonne of devices per hour, the plant sets a new benchmark for battery safety and recycling infrastructure.
Doug Rowe, CEO of the EcoCycle Group, said the launch marks a turning point for battery recycling in Australia.
“Every home has products with hidden batteries, and until now there hasn’t been a dedicated way to recover them at scale. This plant gives Australians confidence that when they recycle, those batteries are managed safely, onshore, and responsibly.”
Spyro Kalos, National Partnerships Manager ANZ, said the new facility responds to urgent calls from government, industry, retailers and the public. “Battery fires are now a weekly headline, too often we see them in rubbish trucks, recycling yards and transfer stations. Our partners want real solutions. This new plant delivers them, turning problem waste into recovered resources, ready for refinement and reuse.”
EcoBatt has built the solution for embedded battery waste, but it will only succeed with strong extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy in place. Industry and community must also play their part, and that begins with choosing the right bin.
EcoBatt already operates Australia’s largest battery collection network, with around 7,500 public drop-off points, UN-rated kiosks, bins and drums, and a dedicated company-owned fleet for transport. The new BIDS Plant builds on that system, ensuring batteries are not only collected but also safely processed and recycled onshore.
Australia consumes thousands of tonnes of battery-powered products each year. Many are still ending up in household waste despite bans, creating risks for communities and waste workers. Batteries in devices are one of the most dangerous and overlooked waste streams. This plant ensures a solution, so they are no longer a problem left in the bin, but part of Australia’s recycling future.
About EcoBatt
EcoBatt, a subsidiary of the EcoCycle Group, is one of Australias leading battery collection and recycling companies. The company operates the nation’s largest network of battery drop-off points, with more than 7,500 locations supported by UN-rated safety bins and a dedicated fleet for transport. EcoBatt works closely with retailers, councils, and commercial partners to improve safety, reduce fire risks, and ensure batteries are recycled responsibly onshore.
About the EcoCycle Group
The EcoCycle Group is Australia’s most experienced recycler of batteries, mercury and electronic waste, with operations across Australia and New Zealand. The Group includes EcoCycle, EcoBatt, EcoBatt Safety and Eco E-Waste. With a national footprint and EPA-licensed facilities, EcoCycle provides safe, compliant recycling solutions that protect the environment, recover valuable materials and support a circular economy. Through EcoBatt Safety, the Group also delivers specialised fire containment and suppression systems for lithium batteries, helping industry manage the risks of storage, handling and transport.
