Electric vehicle battery recycling facilities began operation this month
Acting Secretary for the Environment and Ecology, Ms. Wong Shuk-han, stated that Hong Kong’s first large-scale electric vehicle battery recycling facility is under construction at the EcoPark and is expected to commence operations this month. This facility will convert retired batteries into recycled black powder, turning waste into resources. Based on past electric vehicle initial registration figures, the Environmental Protection Department has made a rough estimate of the amount of retired batteries to be produced over the next five years, gradually increasing from approximately 1,300 metric tons this year to approximately 6,700 metric tons by 2030.
In a written response to a Legislative Council member’s inquiry, Ms. Wong stated that the Environmental Protection Department commissioned an independent consultant earlier this year to assess the social and economic impacts of the Electric Vehicle Battery Producer Responsibility Scheme. The results showed that the scheme is expected to bring significant economic benefits to Hong Kong, promoting green technology investment, adding approximately HK$66 million to the GDP, and creating over 100 full-time jobs in the waste management and recycling industry, representing approximately 3% of the total workforce in related industries by 2024.
She stated that there are currently five licensed chemical waste disposal facilities in Hong Kong capable of processing retired electric vehicle batteries. Over the past three years, approximately 130 metric tons of retired lithium-ion batteries from vehicles, after initial processing, have been shipped overseas to suitable approved disposal facilities for recycling.
Wong Shuk-han further stated that regarding enforcement inspections and complaints, the Environmental Protection Department has conducted an average of about 40 inspections of relevant facilities annually over the past five years, receiving five complaints about the illegal storage or disposal of retired electric vehicle batteries. Given that some recycling centers have experienced spontaneous combustion of lithium-ion batteries during the summer heat in recent years, the Environmental Protection Department has been regularly distributing leaflets on lithium-ion battery storage and fire prevention at recycling centers throughout Hong Kong since mid-last year to raise awareness among relevant personnel about fire safety regarding lithium-ion batteries and other hazardous materials.
Source: RTHK
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