Metals, electronics and e-waste

Finding opportunities to ‘mine’ above-ground metal resources in a future circular economy for metals.

Modern society is deeply dependent on metals that are essential for products and infrastructure for transport, information technology and renewable energy. This dependence is anticipated to grow, particularly if we are to meet the ambitious targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Currently only a small number of metals are recycled at a high rate and their production has significant adverse environmental and social impacts. This means that global metals recycling and reuse will be an increasingly important source for metal supply in the future

PROJECT | 2024

A fast and fair transition: Minimizing Mining Impacts on the Road to Zero Emissions Transport

Avoiding and minimising the mining impacts associated with EVs.

PROJECT | 2023

Recycable battery amongs other batteries

B-cycle Battery Market Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment

ISF's research informs a performance evaluation of Australian battery recycling for the Battery Stewardship Council's B-cycle scheme.

PROJECT | 2021-2023

Circular Economy for Photovoltaic (PV) Systems

ISF research supports the transition to a circular economy for solar panels and energy storage batteries. ISF was commissioned to undertake research as part of a broader project led by PV Industries Pty Ltd and funded by the NSW Environmental Protection Authority through the Circular Solar Grants Program.

IMPACT STORY

Wealth from waste

CSIRO funded research investigating the current and emerging business models and innovation opportunities of increasing resource efficiency of metal and associated materials. The work also investigated the policy ecosystem to support these new business and employment opportunities.

PROJECT | 2019-2020

Scoping study for solar panel and battery system reuse and recycling fund

ISF's research informs the development of a $10 million NSW Government program.

PROJECT | 2020

Battery materials: responsible sourcing and certification

Pathways to assess the social and environmental impacts of Australia's battery production and to inform a more sustainable supply chain.

Lithium mining - Salinas Grandes Salt desert in the Jujuy, Argentina

PROJECT | 2019

Responsible minerals sourcing for renewable energy

New research exposes extent of mineral demand for renewable energy technologies

PROJECT | 2016-2017

Product stewardship for energy systems

ISF has worked with state and territory governments to support the development of product stewardship approaches for energy systems.

ISF advised the ACT Government (ACT NOWaste) on viable product stewardship approaches for lithium ion batteries. The Queensland Department of Environment and Science engaged ISF to undertake an international review of best practice of battery stewardship, including interviews with international stakeholders. ISF also invited key industry stakeholders to participate in a workshop to inform a stewardship process for PV solar systems, and is a member of the Battery Industry Working Group.

Client: ACT Government

Researcher: Nick Florin

PROJECT | 2016-2017

Sustainability evaluation of energy storage technologies

The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) commissioned ISF to explore the transformative role that energy storage may play in Australia’s energy systems, identifying future economic opportunities and challenges, and describing the current state of and future trends in energy storage technologies.

This project involved a number of phases, the first of which was analysing and presenting a broad range of available and emerging energy storage technologies and their diverse applications in practice. The second phase investigated the economic, social and environmental challenges of significant storage uptake in Australia, including social drivers and barriers, and implications for policy and regulation.

Client: Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA)

Researchers: Elsa Dominish, Nick Florin

PROJECT | 2016

Child-safe battery recycling

Every week around 20 children present at Australian emergency departments with an injury related to a button or coin cell battery. They are extremely dangerous if swallowed, and can cause serious injury or fatality.

The recycling rate for batteries is less than 3 per cent, so most of the 300 million button and coin cells sold in Australia per year end up in landfill, where they can contaminate the land or groundwater. Additionally, in 2016, there was no child-resistant storage container or collection system for the disposal or recycling of button cell batteries.

Supported by the NSW Environmental Trust, ISF collaborated with the Australian Battery Recycling Initiative to investigate new systems for the child-safe collection and recycling of button cell batteries. As part of this project, new child-resistant storage containers were designed, and the project outcomes contributed to recommendations for a national scheme for recycling button cell batteries.

Client: Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (ABRI)

Researchers: Elsa Dominish, Damien Giurco

PROJECT | 2015-2017

Characterisation of battery collection channels in Australia

The Australian Battery Recycling Initiative commissioned ISF to explore battery collection channels in Australia. The focus of this research was to identify well-supported, convenient and safe battery collection points that were efficiently connected to end-of-life processors (an essential factor in the development of a successful national battery stewardship scheme for all types of batteries).

ISF characterised existing and potential collection points by performing a preliminary assessment of points and channels, conducting targeted stakeholder interviews with organisations across the recycling supply chain, and provided a final evaluation and recommendations. The study highlighted the diversity of collection channels and possible pathways to recycling that characterise the Australian waste battery management system, spanning from collection, aggregation, sorting, pre-processing and local and international manufacturing of new products.

Client: Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (ABRI)

Researchers: Nick Florin, Rachael Wakefield-Rann