Lithium battery recycling is an essential process that plays a significant role in conserving resources, protecting the environment, and ensuring the sustainability of energy storage technologies. With the rapid growth of electric vehicles, portable electronics, and renewable energy systems, the demand for lithium-ion batteries has surged, making their recycling more important than ever.
Recycling lithium-ion batteries is more energy-efficient than extracting and processing raw materials for new batteries. By reusing the materials recovered through recycling, we can reduce the overall energy consumption associated with battery production, contributing to a more sustainable energy system.
In addition to its Arizona plant, Li-Cycle is also developing a recycling hub in Italy with Swiss miner and commodity trader Glencore. This hub will be used to further develop its innovative technologies and expand its reach into Europe. Operations at Li-Cycle’s Arizona Spoke began in May 2022, boasting a processing capacity of 18,000 tonnes of lithium-ion battery materials annually. The facility also has potential for future expansion, including the option to add a second main line. Gilbert, the site of Li-Cycle’s Spoke, offers not only close proximity to commercial customers for sustainable battery material supply, but also a skilled workforce and existing infrastructure that benefits the company’s operations.