Green engineering in the West Midlands has been handed a boost after a recycling firm received the go ahead to launch a new battery plant.
Recyclus has been awarded ‘approved battery treatment operator' status by the Environment Agency, meaning it can commence operations at its plant in Tipton immediately.
The move will allow the company to recycle manually lead-acid batteries such as those typically used in automotive vehicles.
Recyclus is authorised to produce 15,000 tonnes of lead per year and can store up to 300 tonnes of inbound stock at any one time at the site.
The system used by the company recycles the entire battery into separate constituent parts to ensure recovery of lead, acid and plastic materials which are then reused to support a wide range of industries and uses such as grids, battery paste and in agriculture.
This new authorisation marks the beginning of phase one of recycling operations which are set to move to a fully automated process later this year following receipt of a variation to the company's licence.
Robin Brundle, chairman of Recyclus' listed parent company Technology Minerals, said: "We are delighted to have our approved battery treatment operator status confirmed by the Environmental Agency so we can kick-start recycling operations, close deals in the pipeline and start generating revenues from this site.
"Once fully operational, the Tipton plant positions us to become one of the leading accredited battery recyclers internationally.
"The lead-acid battery recycling industry is currently a major polluter, with over 18,000 tonnes of spent batteries incinerated or sent to landfill each year in the UK alone.
"It is vital companies look to strip back greenwashing and promote homegrown waste management solutions if the UK is to achieve its COP26 net zero targets.
"Our operations will help to divert waste from landfill, enabling key resources to be kept in use for longer, minimising waste and reducing the environmental impacts of spent batteries.
"These efforts underscore our commitment to developing a truly circular economy for battery metals that will help propel the green transition and meet the net zero 2050 targets. We look forward to reporting on our progress in the coming weeks and months."
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