EcoBatt, part of the EcoCycle Group, is opening a Melbourne plant to recover in-device batteries. | Photo Courtesy of Gloyd Recycling Solutions

Battery-embedded device recovery drew reader interest in September, with record facility fires, legislation and new technology tackling the growing electronics recovery movement.

The list below shows our top five stories published in September in order of unique page views.

1 | Australia opens world’s first battery-in-device shredding plant
A new Battery-in-Device Shredding facility in Melbourne will start operations shortly, according to its backers, who say the site will tackle the growing problem of batteries hidden in everyday products and the risks they pose when discarded.

2 | REACT aims to transform US e-scrap recycling
REACT, DOE E-SCRAP finalist from Intel-E-Waste, Sunnking, Penn State and NREL, uses heat- and chemical-free separation to produce high-value e-scrap streams, piloting in 2026.

3 | ‘Vape effect’ blamed as facility fires hit summer records

Record July and August fires at MRFs highlight the “vape effect” with lithium-ion batteries driving rising risks, Fogelman’s report finds.

4 | From scrap to strategy: Global battery recycling’s next phase

Although battery recycling is still in its infancy, with many EV vehicles expected to remain on the road for years to come, the industry is collaborating and investing in its future.

5 | E-Scrap EPR round-up part 2: California

The West Coast has become a hub of activity in the producer responsibility legislative landscape, with all eyes on California as it prepares to launch an extended fee system covering battery-embedded devices.