Lithium-ion batteries have replaced traditional batteries in several applications, the world over. Developed in the 1970s and first commercialized by
Sony in 1991 for the company’s handheld video recorder, today they are popular because of the power they can put out at a given size and weight. Small smartphone/ smartwatch batteries to large sophisticated batteries used in electric automobiles, Lithium-ion batteries have found plenty of
usage. With Tesla (the first car company to commercialize a battery-powered electric vehicle) setting off a chain of events that would result in the
global push for electronic vehicles getting stronger by the day, the demand for Lithium-ion batteries which power these vehicles is growing
exponentially.
Lithium-ion batteries are available in all shapes and sizes and offer power solutions across the spectrum – from energy storage solutions to portable
energy solutions. Today they are used in:
• Mobiles, computers, laptops, and other commonly used consumer electronic goods such as refrigerators, air-conditioners etc.
• Electric vehicles
• Power backups/UPS
• Renewable energy systems, such as wind and solar power mills
• The International Space Station
Minerals such as cobalt, graphite and lithium are mined from the earth and used to make Lithium-ion batteries. These minerals are considered as
critical minerals because they have no substitutes as on date, and there is high risk of their supply being disrupted.
Critical minerals must be recovered from the Lithium-ion batteries
Despite their critical nature and widespread use, Lithium-ion batteries have a lifespan. When they reach end-of-life, these batteries are dumped, even
though they can be recycled. The valuable metals and other materials can be recovered, processed, and reused, but as of now, this recycling process
has been largely unorganised.
It is estimated that by as early as 2030, 2 million metric tons of lithium-ion batteries will be trashed, every year.
When Lithium-ion batteries are disposed as trash, or dumped in landfils, not only do we lose these critical resources, we also stand the risk of them
creating toxic fire hazards that could be highly disastrous to life and the environment.
Unorganised battery recycling in India – a looming health and environment hazard
Collecting trashed electronic goods from landfills and retrieving different components for resale is an occupation and livelihood for several people in
the unorganised sector in developing countries. This includes women and children.
The process is done manually, without using any protective gear. While waste components that do not have value are burnt and disposed, resalable
battery components are recovered using crude methods which are hazardous. The people involved in this process are exposed to toxic, carcinogenic
fumes.
Huge need for certified battery recyclers
With the alarming rise in disposed batteries increasing, it has become imperative to ensure that devices that use Lithium-ion batteries must be sent to
companies that have the expertise and technology to recycle the Lithium-ion batteries – in other words, they should be sent for recycling to certified
battery recycling plants.
However, this is not an easy task in India as certified battery-recycling plants are few and far between. There is lack of adequate expertise and
infrastructure for this niche and relatively new area of operations. The reasons for these gaps include technical constraints, economic barriers, logistic
issues, and regulatory gaps. In many countries, the lithium-ion battery industry lacks a clear plan regarding large-scale economical recycling. As a
result, battery researchers and manufacturers have traditionally not focused on improving recyclability. Instead, they focus on lowering costs and
increase battery-life and charge capacity. Since much progress has not been made on improving recyclability, only a minor percentage of lithium-ion
batteries get recycled.
Driven by the prospect of vast quantities of end-of-life Lithium-ion batteries expected spent electronic goods and electric vehicles, start-up
companies are commercializing new battery-recycling technologies. More research is being conducted to study the problem, expanding the pool of
people who have been trained in battery recycling. What is more, battery manufacturing companies and recycling experts have started to form
collaborations to tackle the challenges of recycling lithium-ion batteries.