Agrees To Collect Spent Batteries From Bunnings Stores For Recycling
One of Australia’s most successful retailers, Bunnings Group Limited, has executed a Supply of Services Agreement – Battery Stewardship Scheme with Lithium Australia’s (ASX:LIT) subsidiary Envirostream Australia Pty Ltd for the collection of spent batteries from its stores in Australia and selected stores in New Zealand.
Lithium Australia, which has a 90% ownership interest in Envirostream, said the contract with Bunnings allows for provision of services to begin immediately. Envirostream has already trialled its spent-battery collection services in several Bunnings stores within Victoria.
In preparation for the BSS, Bunnings and Envirostream have worked together to ensure drop-off points for spent batteries within the Bunnings infrastructure are not only convenient for customers but also facilitate efficient spent-battery collection by Envirostream.
The Agreement runs until June 30, 2024, at which time Bunnings has the option to extend it for a further 12 months. Envirostream will provide a Battery Product Stewardship Programme at all relevant sites across Australia and New Zealand. The Programme must incorporate all the requirements of the BSS for managing every type of battery covered by the BSS (‘Services’). The Services include, but are not limited to:
< provision and maintenance of suitable collection units for spent batteries;
< collection and transportation of spent batteries from all Bunnings sites;
< recycling of the spent batteries collected from Bunnings sites;
< education and participation in marketing campaigns, in conjunction with Bunnings, and
< reporting.
The BSS is currently anticipated to be operational from 1 January 2022. Service fees and service rebates for Australia are linked to the expected rebates payable on a per-kilogram-collected basis from commencement of the BSS.
Lithium Australia MD, Adrian Griffin, noted that the Australian federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment recently issued Envirostream with a Basel Import Permit, which allows for the import of 100 tonnes of mixed-waste batteries into Australia from New Zealand.
The permit, which allows Envirostream to service the Bunnings’ New Zealand stores, is valid until October 14, 2022. Once imported into Australia, the waste will be recycled at Envirostream’s EPA-licensed Campbellfield facility and its Laverton North facility, which is currently in development.
“The company is pleased to announce that Envirostream will commence a service contract with Bunnings, which is leading the way in the provision of convenient collection points for spent batteries ahead of the BSS. The creation of such a collection infrastructure is vital to improving Australia’s battery recycling rate and preventing spent batteries from being consigned to landfill,” Mr Griffin said.
For further information please visit: https://lithium-au.com/recycling/
