Battery Recycling Could Boost Scottish Green Jobs

Developing a Circular Economy for Battery Recycling Could Create Green Jobs in Scotland

 

In partnership with Transport Scotland and Scottish Enterprise, Zero Waste Scotland has commissioned a new study that suggests that developing a circular economy by recycling batteries could boost green jobs in the country.

Battery waste is predicted to triple within the next 25 years as more people make the move to electric vehicles (EVs) from petrol and diesel, with 40 per cent of the expected battery waste coming from EVs. According to an analysis, there could be an extra 60,000 tonnes of used batteries needing to be disposed of annually by 2045, according to Materials Recycling World.

However, Zero Waste Scotland says this presents major economic benefits for Scotland, as well as the potential for ‘significant’ job opportunities.

Currently, most used batteries are sent to landfill, despite the valuable and potentially hazardous materials contained within.

The report suggests that scaled-up and improved battery recycling operations would create employment, and allow precious materials to be reused and help Scotland achieve its climate targets.

It includes key recommendations such as updating the existing extended producer responsibility scheme for batteries, presenting manufacturers with a greater duty to minimise waste and associated emissions, introducing battery recycling targets and carbon footprint declarations to discourage waste, and designing new, easily-disassembled batteries.

The increased demand for batteries following the transition to EVs could help boost jobs in the EV industry and battery supply chain across the UK by 60,000 jobs, from 186,000 to 246,000, according to the British research institute, the Faraday Institution.

The chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, Iain Gulland, said: This report sees us map out a potential resource and revenue stream for Scotlands future.

It is one of a number of resource mapping reports Zero Waste Scotland plans to produce to ensure we are armed with the knowledge we need to capitalise on the economic opportunities of sustainable resource management in a net-zero future.”

By forecasting the future demand for batteries, he explained, it will be possible to identify any opportunities that will help develop a circular approach to how batteries are managed at the end of their useful lifespan, and embracing those opportunities will be key for Scotland to achieve its net-zero ambitions.

The agency found that around 40 per cent of future battery waste could come from the EV industry by assessing the expected increasing demand for batteries across key sectors, including transport and logistics.

However, the high levels of consumption of technological goods, such as smartphones, over the past decade will also be a major source.

Andy McDonald, head of low-carbon transition at Scottish Enterprise, said there is a huge opportunity for new innovative battery technology that supports the increased use of electric vehicles.

As these reports highlight, there is also significant additional resource, revenue and jobs potential from battery remanufacturing and we will utilise the findings and link to wider work around energy transition that will be key to reaching Scotlands net-zero targets,” he said.

If you’re looking for belt scrapers for your recycling operations, get in touch with our team today.

More News

Shopping Basket

MATT BEVERLEY

A time served Mechanical engineer Matt’s background includes many high-profile projects within the Automotive Industry: The Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, Spyker Le-Mans racing teams, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Airbus A380. This history and knowledge of complex manufacturing and engineering projects have been transferred and further developed into the bulk material handling sector. Matt has work in Europe, North America, Indonesia, and China

He joined the bulk solids and bulk handling industry in 2019 as Managing Director of Hoverdale UK Ltd and subsequently completed a Management buyout in July 2020. The business has grown yearly, increased employment, its customer base, and worldwide reputation, and disrupted the market with groundbreaking innovative technology. Since Matt took over Hoverdale, the company has filed four patents for innovation; one was granted in 2023 for a design to improve bulk handling. The success had been driven by delivering tailored solutions to the waste recycling sectors that keep material flowing out and money flowing in.

Awards Include

  • 2024 – Shapa company of the Year
  • 2024- Shapa Innovation in Technology
  • 2024- MHEA Engineer of the year
  • 2021 – MHEA Innovation of the year
  • 2021- IMechE Innovation award

Current Positions Include.

  • Group Chairman Hoverdale UK Ltd
  • President (MHEA) Material Handling Engineers Association
  • Vice Chairman: IMechE Bulk Material Handling Committee
  • Council Member: (SHAPA) Solids Handling & Particle Association
  • Member: Chartered Management Institute

Matt has been happily married to Julie for 22 years and has 4 children, 3 of which are involved within the Hoverdale group of companies. He is an RFU level 2 qualified coach and referee having been in several head coaching roles at various age groups from under 6’s to adults for his local team Nuneaton RFC. He believes in the core values that rugby teaches of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship and try’s to carry this through in his day to day business activities. He is passionate at brining the next generation of young, diverse engineers into the sector through promotion of apprenticeship scheme and further education routes.

DAVID BARTER

David is an experienced leader, with a background covering Operations, eCommerce, Finance, Compliance, HR and IT. His career spans Banking, Retail and Engineering, spending the majority of his career working for ALDI as they grew to become 4th largest supermarket in the UK, including seven years on their UK board as Managing Director of IT and eCommerce.

David joined Hoverdale’s Senior Management Team in 2023 to seek a fresh challenge in a completely different industry sector. He has applied his approach to Process Improvement, Efficiency, Customer Service and Teamwork to great effect during Hoverdale’s sustained growth.

Married to Jane, with three adult sons between them, David volunteers on the board of the Nottingham Playhouse theatre as well as his local rugby and football clubs. Any spare time he spends enjoying walks with their Golden Retriever, Buzz, who is also regularly seen in the Hoverdale office.

BEN DUCHESNE

Ben is a time serviced field service engineer in the busy waste and recycling sector, who’s career moved into to managing service teams and beyond. Originally beginning his career with a HGV repair and maintenance apprenticeship with IVECO, from there travelling and working in multiple countries moving towards waste processing shredders.

Ben joined the Hoverdale team in September 2024 seeking to apply his extensive knowledge to a new area. His values and ethics fit perfectly within the Hoverdale ethos.

He is happily married to Kristina, with 4 wonderful young children; 14, 11, 8 and 5. We the children he doesn’t get much spare time. He is a family man, who enjoys spending as much time with them as possible.