Batteries power everything from scooters to planes. They have become an essential part of our lives. The amount of batteries present in our trash and landfills is staggering. As a new version of batteries comes into the market, the spent batteries either go to either of the above places. People don’t realize how much of this is a big deal.  By 2030 you can expect customers to opt for lithium batteries over lead batteries.

Lithium batteries are cheaper to create.

That is one of the main reasons why many consumers will shift to newer batteries. But people seem to forget what are we going to do with all the spent lead batteries. We can't just throw them in the trash. We need to dispose of them properly if we want to make a difference. Battery recycling is the only way where you can expect to claim 100 % of the resource involved in manufacturing these batteries in the first place.

What makes Recycle Technologies the best candidate when it comes to battery recycling?

Regardless if the batteries are reused or repurposed, they need to be recycled first. At this junction, we face several challenges to fully implement battery recycling. Recycle Technologies adheres to all state and federal regulations. Our recycling initiative enables us to reduce environmental impacts and help reclaim resources. The main issue that recyclers like us face is that fewer people are using battery recycling as a means to properly dispose of batteries. Instead, they throw them in the trash.

Consumers keep forgetting that throwing batteries in the trash are state and federal offense. By doing so they could end up in jail. Storing them in your homes it will automatically become a health hazard to you and your family.

Why battery recycling has become more essential now than before?

Battery recycling is important because it helps us reclaim virgin resources which we then repurpose to create new batteries. Keep in mind that the resource we reclaim has a 100% residual value. This is more we get what we had initially. This is one of the specialities of battery recycling. We get access to resources that we can’t find them naturally. It is either too expensive or rare. EV battery is also making strides as they become prominent with use.  Currently, EV batteries reach their life when more than 80% of their cell capacity has been spent. It takes 8 to 12 years to reach that target. This show how good EV batteries are. 

Are lithium batteries the future?

The high sales of lithium batteries are a good sign that sooner or later consumers may shift to them from lead batteries. But on the disposal side of lead batteries, it paints a grim picture.  

A lithium battery is primarily composed of rare earth resources which can be reclaimed. These can then be reused to create new batteries that in return lower manufacturing costs. The cost to manufacture lithium batteries is far cheaper than what it takes to make a new lead battery. Three elements are the mainstay of all lithium batteries. These include cobalt, nickel, and lithium. Sourcing these elements is an expensive affair. Their price changes regarding the demands.

By recycling and reclaiming valuable material, you can expect a potential amount of material not to end up in landfills. This means by using a recycling program you can fully reclaim all resources it took to create that battery.

Why battery recycling will help us reclaim Cobalt?

Cobalt is the most valuable component for both recycling and the battery itself.

Recycling helps us to rely on fewer virgin resources that are slowly depleting. The world supply of cobalt comes from Congo. By recycling lead and lithium batteries, we can stop depending on foreign nations for resources and better our overall supply chain. We can strengthen the whole circular economy.

To create new batteries we need a strong alternative. We can accomplish this by recycling batteries. The by-products of the recycled material will help us create new batteries that are more persistent. With recycling, you can expect alternatives than reliance on virgin resources.

Recycle Technologies and Battery Recycling

The above reasoning is why Recycle Technologies is pursuing policies that are safe and secure in every way possible. To create a sustainable system for battery recycling and manufacturing we require a proper process for collection, logistics, standardization, and investment in infrastructure. The circular economy is a great way to mitigate this but at what costs?

A closed loop of recycling batteries is vital if we want to stop reliance on virgin resources and create new batteries. Several States are in the process of introducing policies to ensure that EV batteries sold in the state are fully recycled. The lithium-Ion battery market will reach $1 trillion by 2026.

Policies that Recycle Technologies is pursuing will play a key role in sustainability and finding new ways to properly recycle lead and lithium batteries.

Conclusion

With the technology available today we can easily recycle batteries economically. Future innovation in our processes will enable us to reduce pollution, and greenhouse gases, and less reliance on virgin resources.  The cost to manufacture a lithium-ion battery is becoming cheaper but the cost to recycle batteries is still the same. Unless we develop policies to properly dispose of batteries and reclaim resources. We are bound to repeat what Carl Sagan said about us all those eons ago. If we don’t act now, we may never get to act again.

Why do you need an R2 Certified e-waste recycling company?

If you are a business or a government agency looking for an e-waste recycling company, then you have come to the right place. Recycle Technologies is an R2 V3 certified recycling company. Being R2 certified benefits you to know that the whole recycling process is accountable.  Not only does it ensures that we protect the environment but human health and safety. Sustainable Electronics Recycling International has certified Recycle Technologies for R2 Certification.

The main goal of SERI is to minimize the environmental and health risk posed by end-of-life electronics. Responsible Recycling is Recycling Technologies' mission as well as SERI`s. We not only protect human health but the environment by keeping toxic materials out of landfills.