Battery Recycling Market - Forecasts from 2025 to 2030

The Battery Recycling Market is expected to grow from US$24.990 billion in 2025 to US$40.094 billion in 2030, at a CAGR of 9.92%.

Battery recycling refers to the process of collecting old/ used batteries for the purpose of reprocessing them and making them ready for reuse. Battery recycling as an industry has grown in the past few years due to the growing concerns of these used batteries being disposed into landfills leading to soil and water pollution. In today's digital world, the use of electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, power banks, etc. which need batteries to run has grown by leaps and bounds. Over time and with regular use, the efficiency of these batteries reduces, leading people to discard them. Upon discarding, these batteries end up in landfills causing environmental problems. This can be avoided by the process of recycling batteries which not only reduces them being thrown away but also ensures a supply of usable batteries for wide applications such as being used in electric vehicles, among other use cases. From these batteries, valuable metals are recovered so that they can be converted into active cathode materials for the production of new rechargeable batteries. There are different types of batteries and each one has its own chemical composition and recycling method. One of these types of batteries is a lithium polymer battery. A lithium polymer battery is composed mainly of cathode, anode, and solid electrolyte, the solid electrolyte being a dry solid, a porous chemical compound, or a gel-like electrolyte. Now, lithium polymer or Li-Po batteries shouldn't be confused with lithium-ion batteries, as Li-Po batteries have their pros and cons over the more popular lithium-ion batteries, as well as their chemical composition. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, Li-Po batteries are lightweight and ensure greater safety, have an extremely low profile, and have a lower chance of suffering from leaking electrolytes. Though with greater benefits comes a higher price tag, as Li-Po batteries are expensive than other battery types. Thus, more research and development are needed for Li-Po batteries to go mainstream and have wider applications. Stringent government policies, environmental concerns, and increasing adoption of electric vehicles are contributing to the growth of the recycled polymer battery market.

Though Li-Po batteries have increasing applications in different industries, innovations and improvements are needed for the growth of the recycled polymer battery market. Polymer batteries are more expensive as compared to other battery types, have lower energy density and lifespan.

The Battery Recycling market has been comprehensively segmented based on battery chemistry, recycling process, source, business model, and geography, to offer detailed insights into market dynamics and emerging trends.

By Battery Chemistry, the market includes Lithium-ion, Lead-acid, Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), and other battery types. Among these, Lead-acid batteries dominate the market due to their high recyclability and well-established collection infrastructure. Lead, being both valuable and hazardous, makes its recovery crucial for both economic and environmental reasons.

By Recycling Process, the market is categorized into Pyrometallurgical, Hydrometallurgical, Direct Physical Recycling, and Hybrid/Emerging Technologies. Hydrometallurgical processes are gaining traction due to their ability to recover metals with high purity while reducing environmental impact, especially in the context of lithium-ion battery recycling.

By Source, the market is segmented into Automotive, Industrial, Consumer Electronics, Energy Storage Systems, and Others. The Industrial segment currently leads, supported by the widespread use of large-format batteries in equipment such as forklifts and backup systems, which are often based on recyclable lead-acid technology.

By Business Model, key approaches include Battery Collection Services, Refining & Materials Recovery, Battery Reuse / Second Life, and Recycling-as-a-Service (RaaS). Growing interest in circular economy models has spurred innovation in reuse and RaaS-based strategies, especially among start-ups and integrated recycling firms.

By Geography, the market is divided into North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific. Europe remains at the forefront of the global battery recycling industry, driven by stringent environmental regulations, extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies, and strong public and private sector commitments to sustainable practices. Meanwhile, Asia Pacific, led by China and South Korea, is emerging rapidly due to increasing EV adoption and large-scale battery manufacturing.

• Growth Factors

Stringent Government Policies

Governments all around the world have policies in place regarding the disposal of hazardous materials and thus battery recycling ensures that batteries that would normally be disposed of as material waste in landfills would now be collected and recycled.

Access to raw materials

Since the manufacturing of batteries like lead-acid, nickel batteries requires raw materials from the earth which are depleting and becoming harder by the day to access and utilize at economical costs, recycling has come forward as a viable option.

Increasing use

With rapid urbanization leading to increased use of new-age devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets and with increasing adoption of electric vehicles, the demand for recycled batteries that can be widely used is on the rise.

• Restraints

Innovations in current technology

With the decreasing costs of manufacturing batteries, a lot of players in the industry are focusing on providing batteries at cheap costs with increased energy density rather than focusing on improving the technology required for recycling batteries, which may act as a barrier to the market growth.

The battery recycling market is highly competitive and fragmented, with both global leaders and regional players addressing diverse end-user demands. Prominent key players in the battery recycling market include Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., Ecobat LLC, Veolia Environnement SA, Redwood Materials Inc., Umicore SA, and Neometals Ltd among others. These companies are actively adopting strategic initiatives such as mergers, acquisitions, technology innovations, and capacity expansions to strengthen their market position and expand their geographic footprint.

The report covers major players along with their respective competitive strategies. It also highlights notable deals, partnerships, and investments over recent years that have shaped the competitive landscape. The Company Profiles section offers detailed insights into each player's business overview, key product and service offerings, financial performance (for publicly listed firms), and recent strategic developments relevant to the global battery recycling market.

Battery Recycling Market Segmentation:

By Battery Chemistry

• Lithium-ion Batteries
• Lead-acid Batteries
• Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) Batteries
• Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) Batteries
• Others

By Recycling Process

• Pyrometallurgical Process
• Hydrometallurgical Process
• Direct Physical Recycling
• Hybrid / Other Emerging Technologies

By Source

• Automotive
• Industrial
• Consumer Electronics
• Energy Storage Systems
• Others

By Business Model

• Battery Collection Services
• Refining & Materials Recovery
• Battery Reuse / Second Life
• Recycling-as-a-Service (RaaS)