{
  "id": 8541891,
  "title": "Recycling industry needs to prepare for influx of EV waste, experts say",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/recycling-industry-needs-to-prepare-for-influx-of-ev-waste-experts-say",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-19T21:09:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-20/qld-calls-for-more-ev-battery-recycling/107149400"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Australia's battery recycling industry must prepare for an influx of waste from old electric vehicle (EV) fleets, as sales of BEVs surged to a record high in August. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries reported that 27,089 battery electric vehicles were sold nationally in a single month, representing 24.9 percent of the entire new vehicle market. Marlene Caudillo, an EV owner, believes the environmental impact heavily influenced her decision to switch from a petrol car to an EV. However, many EV owners are unaware that their batteries can be re-purposed and recycled. Modern EVs use complex battery types, such as lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC), which are more difficult to recycle than traditional lead-acid batteries. While some recycling programs exist, like RACQ's free state-wide initiative, they currently do not accept EV batteries. Envirostream, a Melbourne-based recycler, specializes in recycling end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, but emphasizes the need for careful handling due to their high energy density and potential for fires. Experts agree that Australia needs to develop a stronger EV battery management sector to handle the growing demand, focusing on training and skills development to ensure the country can recycle these batteries sustainably and safely.",
  "summary": "As electric vehicle use rapidly grows in Australia, experts say the country's battery recycling industry must prepare for the looming influx of waste.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}