Battery recycling programs are accelerating across the U.S. and Canada, driven by new facilities, regulatory action, and consumer education.
South Carolina’s Princeton NuEnergy (PNE) has opened a black-mass recycling and cathode active material production facility capable of processing 5,000 metric tons of manufacturing scrap annually. Expansion plans aim for 15,000 tpa by 2026 and up to 50,000 tpa as demand rises. The company reports recovery rates exceeding 97%, making this facility a cornerstone of the growing U.S. battery recycling program to secure domestic supplies of lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
Meanwhile, Washington State is advancing its 2023 battery stewardship law, a key step in building a statewide Battery Recycling Program. The Department of Ecology recently released draft rules covering recycling targets, labeling, collection standards, and producer reporting. Portable battery producers must comply by 2027, with medium-sized battery requirements following in 2029. Exemptions include medical devices and EV batteries. The program is designed to reduce fire risks in waste facilities and create consistent recycling infrastructure.
In Canada, the nonprofit Call2Recycle has partnered with Circular Materials to unify consumer education. Programs such as Recycle Your Batteries, Canada! are part of the national battery recycling program aimed at reducing confusion about what can be recycled and preventing batteries from ending up in curbside recycling bins, where they pose hazards.
These developments show how battery recycling programs strengthen clean-energy supply chains and protect communities. Expanding infrastructure ensures valuable materials are recovered domestically, while stewardship laws and education campaigns increase safety and consumer participation.
Challenges remain, including scaling infrastructure to meet surging EV demand, managing costs, and harmonizing regulations. Still, with public and private investment growing, North America is positioning battery recycling programs as vital to environmental safety and energy security.
Canada is rightfully preparing for the vast expansion of battery solutions with long-term recycling as a key priority to make sure the country’s energy solutions are clean during and after its life-span.
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