Can you recycle lithium-ion batteries?

Short response? not quickly. Rechargeable lithium ion batteries are utilized in a variety of technological applications, but solar storage batteries like the Tesla Powerwall and automotive batteries for electric vehicles are of particular importance.

The world must find a means to recycle lithium ion batteries as their use increases. Let’s examine why recycling them is difficult at the moment, what can be done with used lithium batteries, and what the future holds for battery recycling.

What is the difference between lithium and lithium ion batteries?

Lithium ion batteries are rechargeable, whereas lithium batteries are not, and this is the primary distinction between the two types of batteries. Smaller household equipment like fire alarms are powered by lithium batteries, whereas laptops and cell phones are powered by lithium ion batteries.

Lithium ion batteries are more difficult to recycle than lithium batteries. As a result of their highly combustible construction, lithium ion batteries can be hazardous to recycle if done incorrectly.

Because they can store a respectable amount of power in a compact amount of space, lithium ion batteries are preferred for battery storage and electric vehicles (EVs). They are perfect for EVs because they have a long lifespan and can sustain daily recharges.

How to recycle lithium ion batteries locally

Unfortunately, recycling lithium ion batteries is not simple. You cannot simply add lithium ion batteries to your regular recycling container since lithium can be flammable, making it a hazardous substance to recycle. Storage batteries and EV batteries are both quite heavy, making it difficult to carry them to a recycling facility.

Cobalt, nickel, copper, and aluminum make up lithium ion batteries. These metals can all be recycled and used again.

The cost of recycling lithium ion batteries is justified by the availability of these other metals. In actuality, recycling cobalt is less expensive than mining it. Lithium, however, is the opposite. Lithium recycling is more expensive than using newly produced lithium.

How are lithium ion batteries recycled?

Batteries are recycled by being chopped into pieces and mixed together. Once all of the metals have been combined into a powder, they must either be liquefied or dissolved in acid to enable the recovery of the desired metal.

The US has proposed amending the Defense Production Act to better reflect the fact that battery recycling is still in its infancy. The objective is to finance the acquisition of the metals required for the transition to sustainable energy while also doing research into and making investments in lithium ion battery recycling.

Alternately, outdated batteries inside of EVs occasionally can be utilized rather than being destroyed. While lithium ion batteries will eventually lose their ability to power automobiles, they can still be used for less demanding energy storage purposes, such as backup power.

Recycling the old technology when you replace something like your EV or storage battery is now a hassle. On the EPA website, you may locate authorized recyclers of gadgets. Alternately, some producers, such as Tesla, will accept their lithium-ion batteries back at the end of their useful lives for recycling.

What makes recycling lithium ion batteries a challenge?

The majority of the important metals that can be recycled now cannot be extracted using advanced recycling techniques, which would be more expensive than mining.

Most of the metals included inside a lithium ion battery can be mined for less money than it costs to recycle them. Ironically, one of the numerous factors that allow us to spend extensively in batteries is the low cost of lithium mining. Unfortunately, if we produce inexpensive lithium batteries that are not recyclable, we will produce an abundance of electronic debris that will fill landfills.

Battery metals are strong and useable, even if recycling batteries may entail some additional work and expense. Recycling must become profitable in order to lessen our reliance on newly mined lithium.

Utilizing lithium and other metals from recovered batteries is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to lithium mining, which produces significant amounts of CO2.

A potential shortage of the metals needed in batteries is also on the horizon. Finding a method to recycle every metal found in used batteries will aid in meeting demand.

The future of lithium ion battery recycling

The need for lithium ion batteries has increased recently, yet the ones that are in use right now are still functional. The lack of dead batteries has slowed the development of recycling techniques.

Pilot schemes like Call2Recycle are being explored in preparation for the upcoming battery wave and are seeking to collaborate with automakers to recycle used EV batteries. Redwood and other businesses are joining as well. Redwood, among other businesses, was founded by a former Tesla employee to address the demand for battery recycling.

Call2Recycle and Redwood both accept lithium batteries from EVs, chargers, tablets, and phones. They are aware that the metals in batteries that would otherwise be thrown out may be used again.

Batteries are a growing component of our world driven by renewable energy, therefore recycling and reusing them will help us survive and prosper in that future. Batteries include metals that are still useful long after their useful lives are through, thus not recycling them would be a huge waste of resources.