Qld company ReNutrients finds way to turn alkaline batteries into organic fertiliser

Brett Smuts struck liquid gold when he discovered a way to turn alkaline batteries into a clean fuel that can save Aussie farmers. Now, he’s looking for investors.

Exclusive: Brett Smuts struck liquid gold when he discovered a way to turn alkaline batteries used in everyday items like kids’ toys into organic fertiliser for farming.

Now, his Australian company ReNutrients is bringing this game-changing clean technology to Queensland, which he hopes will also offer a greener way to recycle other toxic waste.

His Gold Coast-based company has bought exclusive rights to use technology developed in Finland to transform old alkaline batteries by stripping them of their manganese and zinc minerals.

Developed by Finnish company Tracegrow, the final product created is called ZM-Grow, a premium zinc and manganese fertiliser, which can be used by farmers on food crops.

ZM-Grow has been certified for organic use in the UK, approved for use as an organic fertiliser under EU legislation, and is now approved as an input for Organic Production by the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia.

While he also has the rights to distribute the technology to New Zealand, Mr Smuts said he wants to change the way we recycle batteries first, with a processing plant built here within the next two years.

“Australia is always going to be the biggest market because of our deficiencies in zinc, because of the age of our soils, also because of the way Australia has high yielding crops … we have really depleted our zinc levels and it needs to be topped up with other minerals,” he said.

“This product, it’s not only solving our waste issue, but our farming industry really needs zinc.

Brett Smuts, ReNutrients' Managing Director. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“So it’s a perfect fit naturally. It’s not like it is a new product used for farming. It’s always been used, it’s increasing by about 20 per cent every year.

“Even though there’s new technologies for batteries, they are still growing in demand and they, they’re not going to go away anytime soon. So we have a solution for both problems basically.”

Mr Smuts said they have got some locations in mind, but the plant could go anywhere in Queensland. He has had support from the state government, and has also reached out to the Federal Government.

“Most countries have now banned the importation of toxic waste, leaving no other option than to be placed into Australian landfills. With less than 4 per cent of batteries recycled in Australia, we are risking our health and our planet by not recycling,” he said.

He is now calling on Australian investors get involved in his equity crowd-funding raise to help build the plant.

Shares in the company can be bought for as little $250 on the platform, On Market.

With a maximum of $750,000 in shares on offer, and a company value of $4.75 million, Mr Smuts said the equity raise will go towards its manufacturing plant.

“We have come to a point where I have put all of my personal equity into the business but it’s bigger than me, and we just need farmers and industry to get behind us,” he said.

Mr Smut’s new venture comes as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recently approved the nation’s official battery stewardship scheme, B-cycle, that is being developed by the Battery Stewardship Council for launch early next year.

Battery Stewardship Council CEO Libby Chaplain said B-cycle has been established by industry and supported by government, and is designed to create a viable circular economy for batteries.

“It is exciting to see new entrants to the market such as ReNutrients, especially in states that currently are currently under-served by local recycling options,” she said.

Originally published as Qld company ReNutrients finds way to turn alkaline batteries into organic fertiliser