❓ Hon. Sophia Moermond asks about lithium-ion battery recycling processes, battery-related fires at waste facilities, and the government's knowledge of these incidents. The response outlines current recycling practices and admits a lack of consolidated data on battery fires.
AnsweredQoN 1403Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES —
RECYCLING
1403. Hon SOPHIA MOERMOND to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the recycling of
lithium-ion batteries, noting that a recent ABC News article addressed the need
to establish lithium-ion recycling facilities.
(1) What is the recycling process of
lithium batteries in Western Australia?
(2) How many battery-related fires
occurred at waste management facilities in 2023?
(3) How many battery-related fires
have occurred in 2024 to date?
RECYCLING
1403. Hon SOPHIA MOERMOND to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the recycling of
lithium-ion batteries, noting that a recent ABC News article addressed the need
to establish lithium-ion recycling facilities.
(1) What is the recycling process of
lithium batteries in Western Australia?
(2) How many battery-related fires
occurred at waste management facilities in 2023?
(3) How many battery-related fires
have occurred in 2024 to date?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) In Western Australia,
some battery types, including some lithium-ion batteries, can be returned
through the state's household hazardous waste program, which is funded
by the state government and delivered by
local governments. Other battery collection points are operated independently
by a range of businesses . Collected batteries are typically transported
to battery-recycling facilities operating in the eastern states, where the
batteries are processed to recover steel, other metals and black mass, the
majority of which is exported to overseas markets.
(2)–(3) The
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation advises that it is not aware
of a consolidated dataset containing records of fires caused by batteries in Western
Australia.
some notice of the question.
(1) In Western Australia,
some battery types, including some lithium-ion batteries, can be returned
through the state's household hazardous waste program, which is funded
by the state government and delivered by
local governments. Other battery collection points are operated independently
by a range of businesses . Collected batteries are typically transported
to battery-recycling facilities operating in the eastern states, where the
batteries are processed to recover steel, other metals and black mass, the
majority of which is exported to overseas markets.
(2)–(3) The
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation advises that it is not aware
of a consolidated dataset containing records of fires caused by batteries in Western
Australia.
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