U.S. Battery Recycling Faces Collection Challenges as Consumer Awareness Remains Limited

Despite the widespread use of lithium-powered devices across the United States, public awareness of proper battery disposal remains limited. According to research cited by battery recycling company Cirba Solutions, nearly 70% of U.S. consumers do not know where to recycle lithium batteries, while more than 60% are unfamiliar with the correct recycling procedures. The findings point to a gap between battery consumption and collection infrastructure, particularly as approximately 99% of Americans use lithium-powered devices in their daily lives.

To address this issue, Cirba Solutions is working with nonprofit organization Keep America Beautiful (KAB) to encourage greater participation in battery recycling ahead of America Recycles Day on November 15. The initiative includes an interactive Battery Smarts Quiz, an educational video explaining how to prepare used batteries for recycling, and WeRecycle Battery Boxes that provide collection options for consumers and businesses. The organizations will also use community outreach activities to help people identify appropriate collection points and understand safe battery handling practices.

For Cirba Solutions, improving public participation is closely connected to the supply of materials available for recovery. The company processes manufacturing scrap and end-of-life batteries to recover valuable materials that can be returned to the supply chain. However, even advanced recycling facilities depend on a consistent supply of collected batteries. When used batteries are discarded through ordinary waste channels or stored improperly, valuable materials may be lost from the recycling system, while safety risks during waste collection and processing can increase.

The partnership also reflects a broader challenge facing the battery recycling industry. As electric vehicles, consumer electronics and energy storage systems expand, establishing convenient collection networks will become increasingly important for securing secondary sources of lithium and other critical battery materials. Public education and accessible collection services are therefore important parts of the recycling chain, alongside improvements in processing technology and material recovery.

Source: Cirba Solutions

SUNSHINE Spotlight: Expanding battery recycling requires more than investment in processing facilities; reliable collection systems and consumer participation are equally important. Improving access to proper disposal channels can help increase the recovery of valuable battery materials and strengthen the supply of secondary raw materials for the growing battery industry.