March 23, 2026: Australia’s battery materials recovery sector has the potential to be worth around A$7 billion ($5 billion) to the national economy by 2050, according to a new report.
The sector, which currently contributes more than A$2 billion, could also support more than 32,000 jobs from the current 19,450, based on modelling in the national industry profile report unveiled on March 12 at Parliament House in Canberra.
The report, commissioned by the Association for the Battery Recycling Industry (ABRI) and prepared by Positive Economics Advisory, highlights Australia’s strong foundations to become a global leader in recovering critical minerals from end-of-life batteries — often referred to as ‘urban mining’ building on an already strong capacity to recycle lead.
Nationally consistent mandatory battery producer responsibility, safe and scalable collection systems and policies to support domestic processing capabilities are highlighted as important to progress.
CEO of ABRI, Katharine Hole, said the findings show Australia already has the building blocks of a thriving battery materials recovery industry.
“Participating in this project has been rewarding, as it quantifies the benefits of Australia’s innovative battery materials recovery industry. The aim is to increase awareness of the advantages that result from properly and safely disposing of batteries once they are no longer usable.”
Hole said as battery use grows across manufacturing equipment, EVs and energy storage, Australia has a chance to build a strong domestic industry that keeps valuable materials in circulation, supports regional jobs and further strengthens the nation’s position in the global critical minerals supply chain.
David Williams-Chen, MD of Positive Economics Advisory, said: “We are looking at a 36-fold surge in used lithium batteries that is actually a massive economic gift. In an era of low economic growth and sluggish productivity, battery recycling offers Australia a new economic lever to pull on.”
“As battery volumes increase over coming decades, the sector has the potential to expand significantly, supporting new investment, skilled jobs and domestic capability in recovering critical minerals.”
By integrating secondary mining into the industrial base, Australia can transform battery materials into a higher-yield, circular-growth engine that complements traditional resource strengths, Williams-Chen said.
