[As published in Summer 2025/26 BayBuzz magazine.]
Efforts to create a nationwide scheme which ensures large batteries become a valuable resource at the end of life, has been given a fresh spark.
I’ve recently been working with the Battery Industry Group (B.I.G.) and major players in the industry, ranging from manufacturers to recyclers, councils, energy providers and even Fire and Emergency New Zealand, to plot a national route forward.
The overarching aim is the creation of a regulated product stewardship scheme for large batteries (over 5kg) – similar to the hugely successful Tyrewise scheme for end-of-life tyres. A recent B.I.G. hui, hosted by Auto Stewardship New Zealand Chair Mark Gilbert and myself, comes at a pivotal moment.
It highlighted the need for B.I.G. to re-engage stakeholders to drive momentum for a stewardship scheme.
The country’s regulatory and market landscape for large batteries is shifting. With updates being considered to the Waste Minimisation Act, increasing EV and hybrid vehicle sales, and advances in battery reuse and recycling, the need for a coordinated, safe, and circular solution has never been clearer.
Fear of long-term EV and hybrid sales slump unfounded
When the Government ended the Clean Car Discount and introduced road user charges, the fear was New Zealanders would abandon the migration to cleaner transport.
While this proved to be true for BEVs (battery electric vehicles), with sales falling off a cliff in January 2024, the uptake in greener transport, especially in hybrid vehicles, has steadily increased. For example, in September, combined sales of EVs and hybrids made up just over 40% of the new vehicle market – a growth of nearly 9% on a year ago.
According to evdb.nz, the growth in units sold tells an even more compelling story. BEV’s sales grew 28%, plug in hybrids 146%, and hybrids 29%, while petrol vehicle sales grew by just 1.6% and diesel sales fell nearly 12%.
Battery stewardship schemes are nothing new
There are dozens of countries which have advanced product stewardship schemes either specifically for large batteries, or for the automotive sector – including batteries.
The Netherlands leads the way when it comes to large battery stewardship. The country best known for bicycles as the primary form of transport, set up the Auto Recycling Nederland scheme in 1993.
This wasn’t the result of a government mandate, but was led by the mobility sector, and over 30 years later it’s become part of the fabric of the industry. The mindset in the Dutch industry around stewardship is different – it’s not just about waste management but is part of an industrial strategy.
For example, in 2023 the scheme processed more than 133,000 end of life vehicles (ELVs) with a reuse rate of 98.7%, including 263 tonnes of EV batteries. Given the increasing cost and the impacts of the raw materials needed to make batteries, recycling makes a huge amount of economic and environmental sense.
In Ireland the Electric ELVES programme ensures EV batteries are collected and recycled at no cost to dismantlers. It also provides wrap-around support such as specialist training, and equips operators to safely depower, remove and store high-voltage batteries. Ireland’s Environmental Protection Authority has published clear national guidance on safe storage and transport, closing the gaps that so often lead to fire risks and insurance headaches.
The research arm of the scheme also recently published data sets on reuse and recycling values – data being a key element of a successful scheme.
The takeaway for New Zealand is the need for safety and competence to build into the scheme from the start. The Irish example also shows how making collections free reduces the risk of stockpiling batteries, training bolsters safety, and showing evidence of the value of the recycled material encourages investment.
The Portuguese Valorcar vehicle recycling scheme also achieves reuse and recycling rates in the 90% range. It requires licensed dismantlers to issue a digital certificate of destruction, which prevents material ending up in unregulated channels while also creating robust data.
Even though EV fires are some 80 times rarer than internal combustion engine vehicles, lithium-ion batteries need to be safely managed. The Belgian producer responsibility organisation Febelauto has a high-security warehouse for storing and discharging lithium-ion batteries, which has integration with emergency services.
Febelauto has also created an excellent reuse system which safely collects, dismantles, tests and reconditions batteries for energy storage before they need to be recycled. It’s a system which renders waste management obsolete in favour of generating value which can be invested into.
What we can learn
There are clear best practice approaches used by most successful and experienced overseas schemes.
• They are producer-funded and performance-led, with annual metrics published openly
• Dismantlers and recyclers are part of the design and are fully supported
• They use diagnostics to reuse rather than recycle, keeping batteries at a high value
• They are backed by public-sector partnerships which ensure material stays in the system and compliance is high
• There is proactive communication to make messaging clear and build public and industry trust
Where to for New Zealand?
Even though we are lagging behind many developed nations in terms of large battery stewardship, we have shown through the Tyrewise scheme that we can also lead. The roadmap is available and there is still time to act.
The New Zealand industry has a choice – wait for regulation or lead the charge. The global playbook is well-written and proven. The reuse and recycling supply chain must be funded, we need to support operators, use standardise diagnostics, and publish results. If we do, stewardship stops being a cost centre and it becomes a platform for safety, trust, and investment.
There’s no doubt the flood of batteries is coming. The advantage we have is we know what the likely challenges, solutions, and opportunities are – not only to prevent future issues, but to create value, and economic and environmental sustainability.
Dominic works at 3R, which designs, implements and manages product stewardship schemes for individual businesses or industry-wide groups. They also help businesses take a fresh look at their waste to first minimise and then recover what would otherwise be wasted.
