Destination… Australia

Mandatory EPR scheme for batteries on the horizon

The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has released draft legislation to implement a mandatory EPR scheme for batteries.

If implemented, the NSW Product Lifecycle Responsibility Regulation 2025 will be the beginning of mandatory EPR for batteries in Australia.

The current nationwide battery collection and recycling scheme is voluntary for producers and brand owners.

Batteries in scope of the NSW regulation cover most household batteries, including:

• power-banks
• removeable rechargeable batteries, and
• e-micromobility devices whose batteries cannot be removed

Excluded batteries include:

• lead acid batteries
• mobile phone batteries
• laptop/computer batteries, and
• back-up batteries in emergency lighting situations

The regulation requires brand owners to enter into an agreement with a product stewardship organisation (PSO) if one is established for their relevant regulated battery type – or, if no POS is established, to assume responsibility for meeting their obligations themselves.

Key obligations include record keeping, reporting, and preparing an action plan to collect and recycle regulated batteries.

The draft is written to allow other Australian states and territories to replicate and adapt it, enabling them to take coordinated action instead of waiting for the federal government to step in.

At this stage, no indicative timeline has been provided for potential adoption.

Stay up-to-speed with developments in Australia with Landbell Group’s Global EPR Information Services.