New South Wales has decided to go it alone on e-bikes again, introducing a bill to parliament that would dramatically overhaul the way batteries in the bikes are regulated.
The Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill requires manufacturers to follow design and manufacturing requirements for small device batteries, reuse and recycling, and safe disposal once they no longer work.
The Bill comes in response to fires caused by lithium ion batteries and concerns from NSW Fire and Rescue and the waste and recycling industry.
Since 2024 there have been 384 lithium ion battery fires and between 10,000 and 12,000 fires each year in rubbish trucks and waste facilities due to people throwing the batteries into general rubbish and recycling.
Increased responsibility for the design, packaging, importation and storage of batteries in bikes is intended to improve safety and ability to recycle them.
Manufacturers would also have to run public education campaigns to improve awareness of battery risk and how to dispose of batteries safely.
If passed, the regulations would also apply to batteries in cordless vacuums, electric toothbrushes, children’s toys, and e-scooters.
New South Wales Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the bill would give the government the strongest powers in the country.
“Our product stewardship obligations will be a critical step in protecting firefighters, waste and resource recovery workers, and the broader community from dangerous and preventable battery fires,” she said.
“Batteries power our modern life, and we will need them more as we decarbonise our economy. But without adequate safety and care we will see further deaths, injuries, and property damage.
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