Less than three weeks to go until BIR Singapore 2024! Electrics, Electronics & EV Batteries Committee: Global trends in electronics and battery recycling
Electrics, Electronics & EV Batteries:
Global trends in electronics and battery recycling
As global demand for Electronics and Electric Vehicles (EVs) surges, the recycling industry faces evolving challenges and opportunities. This session brings together industry experts to explore critical developments in battery recycling, black mass trade, and electronics recycling across the globe. With a focus on sustainability, market adaptation, and technological innovation, the session will also address changing regulations and trade controls for end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment. Our speakers will dive into key issues shaping the future of recycling and resource recovery.
Sadamitsu Sakoguchi, Deputy Director, Industrial and Hazardous Waste Management Division, Ministry of Environment (Japan)
Sadamitsu Sakoguchi is a prominent figure in the Japanese Ministry of Environment.
He has played a significant role in shaping Japan's environmental policies, particularly in the areas of climate change, sustainable development, and international cooperation. His contributions include supporting developing countries in adapting to climate change and participating in international environmental agreements.
He will provide key insights into how Japan is transposing the new OECD and Basel e-waste regulations, which will take effect in January 2025, into its national legislation. At the OECD level, governments have been given some interpretative flexibility in deciding whether to apply Prior Informed Consent (PIC) controls to all or most e-waste. While it is anticipated that most OECD countries will apply PIC controls and related requirements to all e-waste shipped for recovery within the OECD starting next year, learning about Japan’s potentially different approach to these changes will offer valuable guidance to our members.
Desmond Toh, Global Head of Sustainability, GLC Recycle (Singapore)
Desmond Toh is the Global Head of Sustainability at GLC Recycle, where he plays a key role in driving innovative and sustainable battery recycling solutions.
GLC Recycle is a global leader specializing in closed-loop recycling for batteries, utilising advanced technologies to minimize waste and promote a circular economy. Desmond has extensive experience in sustainability, particularly in the decarbonization and digitalization of processes within industries like new energy, oil & gas, and aerospace. His efforts are centred on mitigating climate change through sustainable battery solutions, collaborating with various partners to ensure responsible recycling practices.
Desmond will share insights from GLC Recycle’s pioneering efforts in battery recycling, featuring their notch recycling technology and "Eco-Series" battery raw materials. He will also discuss the challenges, innovations, and sustainability efforts driving the Asian battery recycling market.
Lee Allen, Strategic Markets Editor, Fastmarkets (United Kingdom)
Lee Allen is the Strategic Markets Editor for Scrap at Fastmarkets with over 8 years of experience of reporting and analysis on recycled metal markets.
He reports on black mass markets across the globe. He has appeared on broadcast media including Sky News, BBC News and BBC Radio to provide insight into metal markets. He has also previously presented on scrap markets at conferences organized by the BIR, the Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) and the Southeast Asian Iron and Steel Institute (SEAISI).
In a presentation with the title “How is black mass trade adapting to the sharp drop in battery metal pricing?”, Lee will provide a detailed analysis of the shifting dynamics in the black mass market, focusing on the sharp drop in battery metal pricing, including lithium, and how the market has adapted to these changes. He will also offer supply and demand forecasts for the year ahead.
Lionel Lai, Procurement & Sales Manager, Majestic Corporation (Hong Kong, China)
Lionel Lai manages procurement and sales at Majestic Corporation, a second-generation business specialising in electronics and non-ferrous material recycling, based in Hong Kong with operations worldwide.
Lionel has been involved in the recycling industry his entire life, officially starting full-time three years ago after university. He is responsible for procurement and sales and operates out of Australia, contributing to sustainable practices and the company’s growth in the recycling sector.
Lionel will present an overview of electronics recycling and the EV market in Asia in 2024, with an emphasis on refinery movements and emerging trends in the region.
As the new controls on low-risk e-waste could significantly impact the recycling industry – particularly in the trade and recovery of commodity metals, precious metals, and critical minerals – this session is a must-attend for anyone preparing for the upcoming regulatory changes, as it will provide valuable insights and guidance on navigating this evolving landscape.