We all know the value and purpose of recycling, and many businesses are developing various goods for the market made of recycled materials. Many individuals are now interested in the idea of recycling batteries, and it is the most acceptable method for lowering manufacturing costs and environmental waste.
Lithium-ion batteries are among the most popular batteries, as these batteries are used in almost every portable electronic device. The materials, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, etc., used in manufacturing lithium-ion batteries are recyclable. There are many benefits of recycling lithium-ion batteries. The following are some of the most significant ones:
1. Recover Non-Renewable Resources
As a result of technological evolution, many electronic companies are engaged in creating new portable electronic devices to ease the life of human beings. These portable devices, including mobile phones, laptops, and electric vehicles, run on lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are manufactured using rare-earth materials like nickel, cobalt, lithium, etc. More demand for batteries leads to more mining procedures, which impacts the environment socially and economically.
The world’s current mining activities cannot meet the fast-rising demand for these batteries by producing enough lithium and other necessary minerals. However, lithium-ion batteries can be recycled even when it is appropriately utilized. They cannot be replenished, but the metals used to make batteries can be recycled using various methods.
It is dangerous to dispose of batteries in landfills since it could contaminate the ecosystem. While recycling these batteries can both return the materials to the factories that make the batteries and have a positive economic impact.
2. Protect the environment against harmful substances
Unfortunately, rare earth elements, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese, are detrimental to the environment and human health. The most frequent environmental contaminant that causes past and present mercury poisoning is mercury, and lead and cadmium are also among the more hazardous pollutants. All these materials are required to manufacture lithium-ion batteries.
Aside from that, rare Earth metals have traditionally been produced through mining, which causes unavoidable environmental damage such as depletion of nearby water supplies and contamination of the surrounding area with runoff waste. End-of-life battery recycling is the best option for protecting our environment because the harmful elements are converted into the supply chain rather than disposed of in a landfill.
3. Ensure those old lithium-ion batteries are in good hands.
Batteries are widely used because batteries are powered by every portable electronic device, such as a cell phone, laptop, or electric car. Despite the widespread use of batteries, battery explosion and fire conditions may occur in rare cases. If the waste facilities catch fire due to a battery explosion, it may be difficult to extinguish.
Some lithium batteries are more likely to catch fire, but all batteries must be properly stored if damaged or exposed to heat. Keep lithium batteries in a secure location to avoid fires and explosions. Instead of being thrown away, batteries that have reached the end of their useful life are recycled.
4. Meet Rising Recycling Demand
In the electric vehicle industry alone, there will be a demand for lithium-ion batteries in the region of 1,200,000 metric tonnes in 2022. The required materials are expected to total 7,500,000 metric tonnes by 2030.
Because rare Earth materials are already in short supply, Lithium-ion cells must be recycled to extract raw material to produce more batteries without harming the environment. To meet the increased demand for batteries, many battery recycling companies developed various techniques for extracting raw materials such as nickel, cobalt, manganese, high-grade plastic, aluminum, steel, and copper from end-of-life batteries and sending them back to battery manufacturing companies.
5. Lowering the Future Costs
Batteries include essential components, as we mentioned earlier. All the components required to make batteries have a finite supply and are subject to price changes. Due to limited resources, supply cannot keep up with the demand for batteries, which is increasing due to the ongoing technological revolution. By recycling batteries, we keep these limited resources in use. This leads to an expansion of the supply chain and a reduction in the price of resources, directly affecting the cost of new batteries.
A battery recycling company, BatX Energies, focuses on developing a real circular economy by sending back the rare-earth materials to the supply chain with the help of their patent recycling technology.