Victoria is now home to Australia’s first dedicated battery-in-device shredding plant that will process batteries found in household items and divert over 8,000 tonnes of waste per year from landfill.
Minister for Environment, Steve Dimopoulos said the first-of-its-kind facility will recover up to 95% of metals, plastics, and valuable critical metals for further recycling.
The plant will safely process embedded battery waste from everyday products like toys, power tools, laptops and mobile phones, addressing one of Australia’s fastest growing and most hazardous waste streams.
“Only 15% of batteries are being recycled in Victoria and this Australian first facility will allow us to divert over 8000 tonnes per year from landfill and into our circular economy,” said Minister Dimopoulos.
“This project shows how investment in recycling infrastructure can deliver real results for our circular economy and keep batteries charging our economy throughout their lifecycle.”
EcoCycle has received $2 million in funding from the Government’s Circular Economy Infrastructure Fund: Hazardous Waste – Round 3, to establish the country’s first dedicated Battery-In-Device Shredding (BIDS) plant in Campbellfield.
Using an innovative water-based shredding system to safely break down battery-powered devices, the new facility can handle a wide range of devices, with automated shredding and separation systems capable of processing everything from button cells in greeting cards to rechargeable packs in tools and e-mobility products.
The world-leading technology will be able to process up to one tonne of embedded batteries every hour and divert up to 8,064 tonnes per year from landfill.
Round 4 of the Circular Economy Hazardous Waste Fund is currently open and closes on the 1 December 2025, for more information visit sustainability.vic.gov.au.
