We’re pleased to welcome Scott Yoon, General Manager at Upcycle Ltd, to the VIA community.

 

Based in Onehunga, Auckland, Upcycle Ltd is a specialist recycling company focused on electronic waste and end-of-life battery recovery. With ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certifications, the company operates to international standards with an emphasis on quality, environmental care, and health and safety.

 

Scott brings nearly two decades of hands-on experience in the recycling industry and a deep commitment to environmental stewardship. Under his leadership, Upcycle has seen rapid growth in its EV battery recycling services, now working with major automotive brands across New Zealand. The company has also invested in developing black mass recovery capabilities—extracting valuable metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel from end-of-life batteries for reuse.

 

Upcycle joined VIA after early discussions revealed shared interests in the future of EV battery recycling in Aotearoa. “We believe our experience and ongoing work in battery recovery and black mass processing can offer valuable insights to the wider industry,” Scott says.

 

Through VIA, Scott is keen to collaborate on projects focused on the responsible end-of-life management of all vehicle batteries—electric or not. He sees real value in understanding international approaches to recycling and adapting global best practices to the local context.

 

Beyond the industry, Scott is proud of Upcycle’s Battery Back Bucket (BBB) programme, which makes it easier for households and small businesses to recycle used batteries. This nationwide service has diverted large volumes of hazardous waste from landfill and continues to grow.

 

Outside of work, Scott is a father of four who is passionate about passing on a cleaner, more sustainable world to the next generation. “There’s always something new to learn in recycling, and that’s what keeps me going.”

 

We look forward to the knowledge and energy Scott brings to VIA and the growing contribution Upcycle is set to make.

Scott and the team at Upcycle were one of several businesses that helped VIA develop its report on end-of-use batteries. You can read about the report here: https://via.org.nz/assets/Uploads/VIA-EOL-battery-report-v4-FINAL-v2.pdf

And we remind you of the report on the failure of the CCS to meet its targets and the backwards step it is making the fleet take. You can read more here: https://via.org.nz/via-the-blog-for-industry/clean-car-standard-stalling-fleet-renewal-driving-up-emissions/?stage=Stage