The electrification of Australian mine sites will see a boom in the use of batteries of all chemistries. Lead acid batteries, a traditional mainstay of the mining industry, are expected to nearly double by 2030, however their use will be eclipsed by the explosive growth in lithium batteries. By 2030 the lithium battery market is forecast to be nearly four times the size of the lead acid battery market.
Unfortunately, this will result in a corresponding avalanche of waste batteries to be disposed of. Barely a day goes by without battery generated fires being reported in the media and they have become an increasing nightmare for waste management companies and waste facilities.
The safe recycling of batteries will also become increasingly important for mine sites to achieve their sustainability goals and reduce their environmental footprint.
What are the risks posed by waste batteries, what are the regulatory requirements and how can you manage or eliminate these risks?
What current practises does your mine site currently have for the safe management and disposal of batteries from your site? How prepared are you for the coming avalanche of waste batteries?