Environmental Research & Policy Development

Draft Guidance Information for Environmentally Sound Management of Electric Vehicle Batteries at End of Life, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) (2023): Compiled available information and carried out stakeholder interviews on ESM of EV lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) to produce a Resource Document.

Circularity and Recycling of Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles: Standardization and Safety Requirements, Canadian Standards Association (CSA) (2022): Carried out interviews with 30 stakeholders through the lithium-ion (LIB) battery supply chain to identify gaps in standards, guidelines, regulations and other instruments to promote circularity of LIBs from EVs. Identified opportunities and recommended next steps to increase and promote increased circularity. 

US Market Analysis for Recycling and Reuse/Repurposing of EV Lithium-Ion Batteries (2022): As a sub-consultant to Eunomia Research and Consulting, carried out market research to characterize the US market for lithium-ion battery reuse/repurposing and recycling; identified the market players and potential opportunities. 

Roadmap and Implementation Plan for the Management of End-of-Life Electric Vehicles in Canada, Automotive Recyclers of Canada (2022): As a sub-consultant to Love Environment Inc., responsible for developing technical material related to differences between ICE vehicles and EV’s and how this will impact the auto recycling sector over time. The project involved identifying research and development opportunities related to increased recovery of critical minerals and metals from end of life EVs and EV batteries. 

Roadmap to Increase Recycling of Auto Plastics from End-of-Life Vehicles in Canada, Automotive Recyclers of Canada (2022): Collected data from auto recyclers across Canada on how plastics from scrapped automobiles are currently managed, carried out field work to  measure the time additional recovery of auto plastic takes, and identified markets for recovered plastics from end of life behicles, leading to a road map for increased recovery of auto plastics in Canada.

Market Development for Synthetic Graphite Supply for Electric Vehicle Battery Anodes, Southern Ontario (2021): Part of a team exploring the feasibility of recovering and upgrading synthetic graphite from a large historical stockpile to meet lithium-ion battery (LIB) anode standards.

Developing Canada’s Battery Manufacturing Capabilities: Assessing Battery Supply Chain Opportunities and Constraints, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) (2021):  In partnership with Tahuti Global and NOK Associates, Kelleher Environmental was involved in a comprehensive study of Canada’s lithium ion battery supply chain to identify barriers to developing a complete domestic battery supply chain in Canada. Interviewed over 40 Canadian and international companies across the supply chain from exploration/mining, refining, material processing, cell and battery manufacturing to OEMs.

Circular Economy – Preliminary Resource Recovery Report Card and Gaps Assessment for Canada, Natural Resources Canada (2020): Kelleher Environmental researched and prepared a preliminary circular economy report card for Canada addressing current recycling performance for materials in the Canadian economy including: paper, ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, glass, plastics, food and yard waste, lumber, wood and drywall; auto hulks, tires, electronics, appliances and batteries, CCP (coal combustion products), steel making residuals, wood ash and foundry sand.

Washington State Department of Ecology, Plastic Packaging Study (2020): Worked with Cascadia/Eunomia evaluating policies, programs and technologies that can achieve different levels of reduction and diversion of plastic packaging waste in the state of Washington, US..

Clean Technology Options and Waste Management Alternatives for Plastic Waste in Northern and Remote Communities, Trade & Clean Technology, International Affairs, Environment and Climate Change Canada (2020): Researched and identified viable and promising small scale, batch operation plastics waste management technologies and options for Northern, remote and Indigenous communities in Canada thus contributing to a local circular economy. 

Successful Plastic Packaging Management Programs & Innovations – Task 3 Report – Washington State Dept. of Ecology (2020): With Eunomia, Kelleher Environmental assisted Cascadia Consulting Group to identify policy and technology options and innovations that are available to manage plastic packaging for the Washington State Department of Ecology. Kelleher Environmental’s primary role was to research the current state of mechanical and chemical recycling technologies that exist to manage and process collected plastics. This involved collecting and analyzing information on technology readiness and suitability as well as feedstock requirements of technology companies identified in North America. The full report can be viewed here along with its Executive Summary.

Primer on Clean Technologies and Innovative Approaches to Sort, Process, Treat, and Convert Plastic Waste for Reintroduction in the Circular Economy – Environment and Climate Change Canada (2019): Kelleher Environmental developed an inventory of existing plastics related Cleantech companies in Canada and the US for ECCC. The information compiled was summarized in a Plastics Cleantech Primer.

Research Study on Reuse and Recycling of Batteries Employed in Electric Vehicles – American Petroleum Institute (API) (2019): Kelleher Environmental in association with Gracestone Inc and Millette Environmental carried out comprehensive research and analysis on all aspects of electric vehicle battery deployment into second life reuse applications in energy storage systems. View the high-level summary report here.

Global School Battery Recycling Program Research Study – Call2Recycle (2018-2019): Kelleher Environmental (with Millette Environmental Environmental) researched best practices related to battery recycling programs in schools, in an effort to determine the extent to which school based programs can contribute to recycling targets. The project involved extensive research on school battery recycling programs around the globe, with a focus on Canada, the US, and Europe, to identify the range of approaches used and the level of success of different approaches.

Report on Declining Tonnes of Electronics Collected in Regulated Stewardship Programs – Alberta Recycling  (2018-2019): Kelleher Environmental (in association with Millette Environmental) compiled data from electronics programs in Canada, the US and Europe to identify patterns in the amount of end-of-life electronics collected in these programs over time. Changes in the way electronics are consumed, product light-weighting and miniaturization, and device convergence all contribute to lower tonnes of electronics collected. electronics programs on a go forward basis.

Estimate of Reuse Activities in Metro Vancouver – Metro Vancouver (2018): Kelleher Environmental, in association with Maura Walker & Associates, undertook extensive research to develop, for the first time, estimates of reuse activities in Metro Vancouver (for textiles, on-line reuse activity; construction and demolition waste; office furniture; EPR materials and other materials) in order to add the reuse estimate to the region’s Recycling and Solid Waste Management Annual Summary. A methodology and protocol was then developed for staff to replicate in future years.

Future Blue Bin Study: Lifestyle and Packaging Trends Research – City of Toronto (2018): Kelleher Environmental was commissioned by the City of Toronto to update the Future Blue Bin Study, which involved an extensive literature search to identify demographic, socio-economic, and packaging trends that could impact the quantity and composition of packaging and printed paper in the city’s Blue Bin system over the coming years.

Position Paper on Organics Ban in Ontario – Confidential Client (2015): Kelleher Environmental wrote a position paper outlining the benefits of a landfill ban on organics in Ontario, including GHG reductions, and addressed how organics bans have been implemented in other jurisdictions including Vancouver, Nova Scotia, and Massachusetts.

Baseline Estimates of Annual Consumer Battery Sales into the US and Canada – Call2Recycle (2015): Kelleher Environmental carried out extensive research to develop estimates of the unit numbers and weights of primary and secondary (non-rechargeable and rechargeable) consumer batteries sold and available for recycling in each province and territory in Canada, and for each state in the US, by battery chemistry. A methodology was developed so that Call2Recycle staff could update the estimates in future years.

Lifespan Model to Estimate Amount of Large Household Appliances Available to Recycle – Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable (2015): Maria Kelleher created a lifespan model to estimate the amount of major appliances available to recycle in BC for 5 years into the future. Results were used to report recycling rates to the BC government.

Technical Guidelines for Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of Spent Lead-Acid Batteries in North America – Commission for Environmental Cooperation (2014-2015): As a sub-consultant to CM Consulting, Kelleher Environmental researched and wrote a draft technical guideline for the environmentally sound management (ESM) of spend lead-acid batteries in North America (US, Canada, and Mexico). Researched best practices for collection, pre-processing, smelting and refining of lead from recycled batteries, and practices to protect worker health and safety, and the environment.

Environmentally Sound Management of End-of-Life Batteries from Electric-Drive Vehicles in North America – Commission for Environmental Cooperation (2014-2015): Kelleher Environmental (in partnership with Gracestone Inc. and Jose Castro Diaz) identified and recommended best practices and technologies to support the environmentally sound management (ESM) of batteries from electric drive vehicles (EDVs) at end of life. Among other responsibilities, Kelleher Environmental assisted in characterizing the types, quantities, and composition of batteries used in electric-drive vehicles (EDVs) in North America.

Options to Increase Recycling Rates for Agricultural Containers – CleanFARMS (2014): CleanFARMS runs a voluntary recovery program for agricultural containers (fertilizer, pesticides, grain bags). Kelleher Environmental was commissioned to develop estimates of actual recovery rates by container category (by province) and develop strategy options to increase those rates.

Characterization & Management of Construction, Renovation, and Demolition Waste in Canada: Foundation Document – Environment (2014): Kelleher Environmental, in association with Guy Perry and Associates and Robins Environmental researched the current infrastructure for management of CRD waste in Canada and best practices and technologies to increase  diversion of CRD waste. This work supports efforts by Environment Canada and other interested stakeholders to improve knowledge of Substances of Interest (SoI)in CRD waste relating to the Chemical Management Plan.

Current Infrastructure for Management of PCB Wastes in Canada – Environment Canada (2013): Kelleher Environmental interviewed all players in the supply chain who manage PCB wastes in Canada and documented the findings in a research report.

Economic and Environmental Impacts of BC’s Zero Waste Strategy – BC Ministry of Environment (2013): Kelleher Environmental was a sub-consultant to Innes Hood Consulting on a study to quantify the economic and environmental impacts of high diversion scenarios for the province of British Columbia, Canada. The study concluded that diversion of organic wastes from residential and IC&I sources resulted in the most significant economic and environmental benefits to the province.