Allegations Rock Australia’s Largest Battery Recycler

Former employees of Ecocycle, Australia's largest battery recycler, allege the company routinely dumps, stockpiles, or burns millions of batteries collected from major retailers such as Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, and Bunnings.

Tracking Data Raises Red Flags

Tracking data from Apple AirTags concealed in batteries placed in Ecobatt collection bins showed that after being transported to Ecocycle's main processing center in Campbellfield, Melbourne, nine out of eleven tags were subsequently tracked to a second site in Ringwood owned by sister company Recycal. The tags then ceased transmitting.

Photographs and eyewitness accounts suggest that batteries are being processed at the Ringwood facility using a furnace that is not rated for lithium-ion batteries, and that battery remnants are stored improperly. One eyewitness alleged illegal dumping of lithium-ion batteries at a tip in Werribee, with photos showing batteries in a "deep burial" section.

B-Cycle Scheme Under Scrutiny

The Battery Stewardship Council, which administers the national B-Cycle scheme, has been unable to verify the fate of the 10,000 tonnes of used batteries collected by Ecocycle and has launched its own investigation.

Ecocycle controls about 90% of Australia's battery collection market and has received significant government funding, including $2 million from Sustainability Victoria and $1.7 million from the Western Australian government.

The company has refused to share detailed data on the fate of collected batteries, citing commercial confidentiality, though the Battery Stewardship Council requires transparency. Industry players worry that questions over Ecocycle’s practices could undermine public trust in battery recycling.

Company Response: Denial and Accusations

Ecocycle denies any wrongdoing, stating that all batteries are processed properly at its Campbellfield facility. A company spokesman said the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has found no recent problems at Ecocycle worksites.

Regarding the AirTag data, Ecocycle suggested the tags could have survived shredding and been redistributed within metal streams, cautioning against drawing conclusions from "unverified tracking methods." The company attributes allegations to industry rivals spreading misinformation, citing "jealousy" over its market dominance.

Environmental and Safety Concerns

Battery fires have caused deaths and injuries, with exploding lithium batteries sparking fires almost daily in NSW and Victoria. Former employees claim the company lacks the capacity to process the volume of batteries collected, leading to improper disposal.

Recycal, Ecocycle’s sister company, has a history of environmental violations, including fines for improper storage of batteries and e-waste at its Ringwood site.

Regulatory Actions Across States

The Victorian EPA has conducted inspections at Ecocycle and Recycal but has not identified recent breaches. It issued a provisional licence for limited e-waste processing at Ringwood in February.

In NSW, a 2020 inspection found unsafe storage of lead-acid batteries and e-waste at Ecocycle’s St Marys facility, with potential harm to human health.

In Tasmania, regulators discovered water pollution and lead contamination near a Recycal scrapyard, leading to blood testing for residents. A fire at a Recycal facility in Brisbane in March required 12 fire crews to contain.