The Challenges of Recycling Lithium Batteries

We are all used to batteries of various types from ‘torch batteries’ to lead acid car batteries to the wonders of tiny but powerful mobile phone batteries and the amazing world of lithium ion or li-ion batteries. Indeed the outdoor power industry has been using the Li-ion batteries for many years but more recently there is an incredible increase in the application of Li-ion batteries in OPE and in commercial equipment.

This all leads to an inevitable problem of what to do with li-ion batteries at the end of their life. They are different to lead acid and gel batteries and their eventual disposal presents problems to the environment and safety issues when being stored, transported or stock piled. These issues seem to be causing some concern within the OPE industry amidst a lack of understanding of what the ‘rules’ are as to who is responsible for the eventual safe disposal or recycling of the Li-ion batteries, whatever the size.

Generally batteries of all types are covered by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations or WEEE. Details can be found on the Government web sites.

The rules and regulations as to who is responsible for the eventual disposal of batteries are many and varied and again referring to government web sites will help to clarify some of the issues. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-batteries-producer-responsibility ‘You’re a battery producer if you have a UK business presence and you’re the first person in your selling chain (including importers) to make batteries available for supply or sale on the UK market’

That is only the beginning of the story in very simple terms, if you sell it you are responsible for it if it is returned to you. If you are a dealer you should be able to return it to your supplier and they in turn to their supplier. The problems that arise from this are the logistics involved in the storage and shipping as there are many restrictions on how these things can be done.

The internet is a wonderful tool for research but it leads you down all sorts of alleyways but below are a few extracts to help with a better awareness of what maybe the more obvious issues in dealing with Li-ion batteries. Not in any particular order.

Li-ion batteries, or those contained in electronic devices, should therefore be recycled at certified battery electronics recyclers that accept batteries rather than being discarded in the trash or put in municipal recycling bins.

Lithium-ion batteries can be recycled, but only at permitted treatment facilities. When discarded, they must be disposed of at a household e-waste collection point or battery-recycling drop off location.

Recycling processes today recover approximately 25% to 96% of the materials of a lithium-ion battery cell.

The approximate amount of lithium on earth is between 30 and 90 million tons. That means we’ll will run out eventually, possibly by 2040 depending on demand.

Traditional fire extinguishers, such as foam and water, don’t work on lithium battery fires. The only way to extinguish a lithium battery fire is to flood the battery with water. A Lithium Fire Blanket will safely isolate a lithium fire battery for hours, until it can be flooded and extinguished.

Li-ion batteries are generally safe, but if they are mistreated or used incorrectly, they can catch fire or explode. Luckily, it’s easy to reduce the risk that these batteries pose to you and your property by taking a few simple steps.

Scientists in Japan are working on new types of batteries that don’t need lithium like your smartphone battery. These new batteries will use sodium, one of the most common materials on the planet rather than rare lithium – and they’ll be up to seven times more efficient than conventional batteries.

BAGMA have talked to a some UK suppliers of outdoor power equipment to ask about their views on Li-ion batteries. Those spoken to were very aware of their responsibilities and the issues that may be faced by dealers in terms of battery disposal. They had arrangements in place to return batteries but were clear that transportation of both new and used batteries was an issue.

The recycling or re purposing of Li-ion batteries is being looked into by at least one supplier. One interesting point that came up was the re purposing of batteries that may only have a minor fault and can be easily corrected and re used or re purposed rather than recycled. Rather than simply replace a product or a battery troubleshooting and doing diagnostic check may identify a problem that can be easily rectified and avoid the need to deal with the recycling problem. This may require dealer staff to be trained but time could be saved by rectifying rather than the taking the time and cost to dispose of the ‘faulty’ product or battery.

BAGMA will be looking into the issues of Li-ion batteries and following discussions that are taking place with various organisations regarding all the issues surrounding the use and disposal of Li-ion batteries.

In all of our discussions to date our advice to dealers is to ensure batteries are stored safely, well away from other products and in proper containers. To make sure that you are aware of how to deal with a potential fire hazard from Li-ion batteries with the correct fire prevention equipment to hand. We would also strongly advise that dealers check their insurance cover or talk to their insurance provider to make sure that they are properly covered in the event of a fire caused by a faulty battery or incorrect storage. Dealers or suppliers may not be covered for storage of large quantities of used batteries.