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    Battery recycling

    Also known as lithium-ion battery recycling, battery circularity, black mass recycling

    Battery recycling recovers metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and copper from scrap and spent batteries, and could cut the need for new mining by 25-40% by 2050 in an IEA climate-pledges scenario.[1][2] As of 2026 most feedstock is factory scrap because nearly all recent EV and storage batteries are still in use, and China hosts over 85% of global recycling capacity.[3][4]

    Editor reviewedUpdated WikiBatteries and energy storage, Energy and climate, Science
    Key facts

    What it is

    Battery recycling recovers valuable metals from used batteries and from factory scrap. US recycler Redwood Materials, for example, recovers lithium, nickel, cobalt and copper from end-of-life batteries. It also deploys large storage systems for data centers and grids.[1] Cell makers are involved too: CATL lists battery recycling among its business lines.[5]

    The feedstock gap

    Nearly all batteries deployed in EVs and stationary storage in recent years are still in use.[4] The IEA expects manufacturing scrap to make up two-thirds of recycling feedstock in 2030. End-of-life EV and storage batteries take over as the largest source only from 2035.[3] Meanwhile capacity has been built ahead of supply: the IEA found global recycling capacity in 2030 could be seven times the available feedstock.[6]

    Where recycling happens

    China dominates. It hosts over 85% of global battery recycling capacity.[4] The IEA has projected that China would keep about 75% of pretreatment capacity and 70% of material recovery capacity in 2030.[7] Average recycling rates across key energy minerals are around 10% today and could approach 20% by 2040 under current policies.[8]

    An industry in flux

    Some Western recyclers have struggled. Li-Cycle, which ran pre-processing plants in Arizona, Alabama, New York, Ontario and Magdeburg, had to halt construction of its Rochester hub in November 2023 when costs exceeded the budget. It became insolvent, and Glencore acquired it as of 8 August 2025.[9] The shake-out comes as the IEA warns that global recycling capacity in 2030 could be seven times the available feedstock.[6]

    Recyclers are also finding other uses for old packs before they are broken down. In June 2026 Redwood Materials said it would install about 100 repurposed GM battery packs, 1.5 MW / 7.2 MWh, at a GM plant in Michigan. Redwood says this makes GM the first automaker to work with it at every stage: recycling factory scrap, recycling end-of-life packs, and reusing packs as storage.[10] Battery makers are growing their own recycling arms too. CATL’s battery materials, recycling and mineral resources segment earned 18.81 billion yuan in revenue in the first half of 2026, up 67.2%.[11]

    Rules in Europe

    The EU Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 entered into force in August 2023 and has applied since February 2024, with requirements phased in through 2031.[12] It sets a minimum recycling efficiency for lithium-based batteries of 65% by the end of 2025, rising to 70% by 2030.[13] From 2031 certain batteries must contain at least 16% recycled cobalt, 6% lithium and 6% nickel, with higher levels for 2036.[14] Digital battery passports become mandatory from 18 February 2027.[15]

    Why it matters

    Recycling can reduce dependence on primary mining, and so on the countries where it is concentrated: the Democratic Republic of the Congo supplies almost two-thirds of the world’s cobalt, and its 2025 export restrictions doubled cobalt prices.[16] The IEA estimates it could lower the need for new mining by 25-40% by 2050 in a scenario that meets national climate pledges.[2] That makes it part of the supply chain debate over how far countries outside China can build their own battery supply chains.[17]

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    Questions readers ask

    Why isn't more battery material recycled yet?

    Because nearly all batteries deployed in EVs and storage over the past few years are still in use. Manufacturing scrap will remain two-thirds of feedstock in 2030, and end-of-life batteries become the largest source only from 2035.[4][3]

    Where is recycling capacity located?

    Mostly in China, which hosts over 85% of global battery recycling capacity.[4]

    What does EU law require?

    From 2031, minimum recycled content in certain batteries of 16% cobalt, 6% lithium and 6% nickel, plus a 65% recycling-efficiency target for lithium-based batteries by the end of 2025 and 70% by 2030.[14][13]

    How much could recycling reduce mining?

    The IEA estimates a successful scale-up could lower the need for new mining by 25-40% by 2050 in a scenario that meets national climate pledges.[2]

    Sources

    · 17 claims from 7 publishers

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Tap a number in the text to see its sources in place.

    1. [1]

      US company Redwood Materials recycles end-of-life batteries to recover lithium, nickel, cobalt and copper, and also deploys large energy storage systems for data centers and grids. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    2. [2]

      The IEA estimates a successful scale-up of recycling could cut the need for new mining by 25-40% by 2050 in a scenario meeting national climate pledges. reportedas of 2024-12-01· forecast

    3. [3]

      Manufacturing scrap will still make up two-thirds of recycling feedstock in 2030; from 2035 end-of-life EV and storage batteries become the largest source. reportedas of 2024-12-01· forecast

    4. [4]

      Nearly all batteries deployed in EVs and stationary storage in recent years are still in use, and China hosts over 85% of global battery recycling capacity. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    5. [5]

      CATL's businesses span EV batteries, energy storage systems, battery recycling and sodium-ion batteries. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    6. [6]

      The IEA found global battery recycling capacity in 2030 could be seven times the available feedstock. reportedas of 2024-12-01· forecast

    7. [7]

      The IEA projected that China would retain 75% of global battery pretreatment capacity and 70% of material recovery capacity in 2030. reportedas of 2024-12-01· forecast

    8. [8]

      Under current policies, average recycling rates for key energy minerals could rise from around 10% today to close to 20% by 2040. reportedas of 2026-10-10· forecast

    9. [9]

      Glencore acquired the insolvent battery recycler Li-Cycle as of 8 August 2025, taking over its pre-processing plants in the US, Canada and Germany and its Rochester hub, where construction had halted in 2023 over costs. reportedas of 2025-08-11

    10. [10]

      In June 2026 Redwood Materials said it would deploy about 100 repurposed GM battery packs (1.5 MW / 7.2 MWh) at a GM plant in Michigan, making GM the first automaker to work with Redwood on scrap recycling, end-of-life recycling and second-life storage. confirmedas of 2026-06-09

    11. [11]

      CATL's battery materials, recycling and mineral resources segment generated 18.81 billion yuan of revenue in the first half of 2026, up 67.2%. reportedas of 2026-07-27

    12. [12]

      The EU Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 entered into force on 17 August 2023 and has applied since 18 February 2024, with phased requirements through 2031. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

      • Batteries · European Commission (DG Environment) (retrieved 2026-10-10)
    13. [13]

      The EU Batteries Regulation sets a minimum recycling efficiency for lithium-based batteries of 65% by the end of 2025, rising to 70% by 2030. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    14. [14]

      From 2031 the EU Batteries Regulation requires minimum recycled content in certain batteries of 16% cobalt, 6% lithium and 6% nickel, rising for 2036. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    15. [15]

      Under the EU Batteries Regulation, digital battery passports become mandatory from 18 February 2027. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    16. [16]

      Cobalt prices doubled after the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which supplies almost two-thirds of the world's cobalt, imposed a temporary export ban in February 2025 that became export quotas from 16 October 2025. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    17. [17]

      China holds over 80% of global battery manufacturing capacity, while the EU and the US each hold 6-7%, although capacity in Europe and the US grew about 50% year on year against China's 25%. confirmedas of 2026-10-10

    Revision history (2)
    1. Added a section on the industry shake-out (Glencore's takeover of Li-Cycle, overcapacity), Redwood's second-life deal with GM and CATL's recycling segment results.
    2. Page created.

    Created Oct 10, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 10, 2026. Next scheduled review: Jan 10, 2027.

    Cite this page

    "Battery recycling." ContentLora, updated Oct 11, 2026. https://contentlora.com/wiki/battery-recycling

    Spotted an error? Suggest a correction or emailcorrections@contentlora.com.

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