U.S. Restricts Battery Waste Exports: Impact on Recycling Companies

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U.S. Restricts Battery Waste Exports: Impact on Recycling Companies

On July 30, 2026, the United States issued an executive order authorizing restrictions on the export of critical mineral-containing electronic waste, including used batteries and magnetic material waste. This article analyzes how the policy may affect global battery recycling material flows.

Su July 30, 2026, the United States signed an executive order authorizing federal agencies to restrict the export of electronic waste containing critical minerals. According to industry reports, the policy covers used batteries, tungsten, lithium, permanent magnet material waste, and other industrial by-products rich in rare or critical metals.

The main objectives of this policy are to:

Keep high-value waste resources within the United States;
Support the development of domestic recycling and refining capacity;
Reduce dependence on overseas critical mineral supply chains.

For overseas battery recycling companies, traders, and project investors, this policy means that future raw material supply chain planning will require greater attention and flexibility.

What Materials Are Covered by the Executive Order?

According to industry reports, the materials involved may include:

Used lithium-ion batteries and battery waste;
Rare earth-containing permanent magnet waste;
Tungsten and lithium-containing materials;
Other industrial by-products rich in critical metals.

These materials are widely used in:

Electric vehicle motors;
Energy storage batteries;
Wind power equipment;
Defense-related applications.

Currently, the executive order mainly provides an authorization framework. Specific restriction lists, declaration procedures, and exemption conditions will need to be confirmed through subsequent regulations from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Why Does the U.S. Want to Restrict Waste Exports?

The United States believes that used batteries, permanent magnet materials, and other industrial waste streams contain valuable recoverable strategic resources.

By restricting exports, the U.S. aims to:

Increase raw material availability for domestic recycling companies;
Build a complete critical mineral recycling system;
Reduce dependence on overseas supply chains.

With the continued growth of electric vehicles and energy storage industries, the importance of lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and rare earth elements continues to increase.

In the future, used batteries and industrial waste will become important secondary resources for the global new energy industry rather than simply waste materials.

Impact on Recycling Companies Outside the United States

For battery recycling companies in China and other countries, the biggest impact is:

Increased raw material supply risks.

Companies need to pay attention to:

Whether raw material sources are overly dependent on a single country;
Whether production lines can process battery materials from different sources;
Whether recycled products maintain consistent quality.

The global battery recycling industry may face a more complex raw material trading environment in the future.

Companies will need not only stable material supply channels but also flexible recycling technologies that can handle different types of used batteries, black mass, and industrial waste materials.

How Can Battery Recycling Projects Improve Competitiveness Under Changing Raw Material Conditions?

Facing changes in critical mineral supply chains, recycling companies need to reduce operational risks through optimized process design and engineering solutions.

In hydrometallurgical recycling projects, suitable process design can improve adaptability to different raw materials, including:

Designing flexible process routes for different battery chemistries;
Selecting suitable leaching, purification, and extraction equipment;
Strengthening impurity control and oil removal systems;
Improving wastewater and exhaust gas treatment systems;
Selecting corrosion-resistant materials such as PPH, HDPE, PVC, and FRP according to actual operating conditions.

Especially in the recovery of nickel, cobalt, and lithium, il leaching stage, solvent extraction separation, and environmental treatment systems are closely connected.

Equipment material selection, automation control, and process optimization directly influence project stability, metal recovery rates, and long-term operating costs.

Therefore, future recycling companies need to focus not only on raw material acquisition but also on improving the adaptability and efficiency of recycling systems.

Process and Engineering Capabilities Become Key Factors for Battery Recycling Projects

As countries continue to strengthen their critical mineral strategies, battery recycling projects are gradually shifting from simple waste treatment toward systematic resource recovery solutions.

For different types of used battery materials, companies need to optimize recycling processes based on:

Raw material composition;
Production capacity requirements;
Target recovered products.

Ciò comprende:

Leaching condition optimization;
Metal separation solution design;
Corrosion-resistant equipment selection;
Environmental protection system configuration.

Companies with comprehensive process design capabilities and engineering experience can help recycling projects reduce uncertainty during construction and operation while improving resource utilization efficiency.

Hangzhou Tianyicheng New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (TYIC) has been focused on new energy material recycling and hydrometallurgy technologies for many years, with extensive experience in:

Battery recycling;
Metal purification;
Environmental treatment solutions.

TYIC was established in 1997 and was listed on China’s New Third Board in 2017 with stock code 871858.

The company provides:

Hydrometallurgical process design;
Lithium-ion battery recycling solutions;
Nickel and cobalt intermediate product recovery;
Metal purification;
Wastewater and exhaust gas treatment.

During project implementation, TYIC provides integrated services based on customers’ raw materials and production requirements, tra cui:

Process route selection and optimization;
Customized equipment design;
Automation control systems;
Project commissioning support;
Technical training.

Related equipment includes:

Mixer settlers;
Tubular extraction equipment;
Leaching reactors;
PPH/HDPE corrosion-resistant equipment;
Oil removal systems;
Exhaust gas treatment systems.

By combining process engineering, equipment manufacturing, and project experience, TYIC helps customers improve their ability to process different types of battery materials and respond to challenges brought by changes in global critical mineral supply chains.

Future Trends of the Global Battery Recycling Industry

As countries strengthen their critical mineral strategies, the resource value of used batteries and industrial waste will continue to increase.

In the future, recycling companies will need to focus not only on raw material acquisition but also on:

Process adaptability;
Resource recovery efficiency;
Environmental protection capabilities;
Long-term project stability.

Early optimization of recycling technologies and engineering solutions will become an important competitive advantage in the global market.

For companies planning lithium battery recycling, hydrometallurgical processing, or critical metal recovery projects, working with partners that have strong process design and engineering capabilities can help reduce project risks and improve long-term operational stability.

For more information about battery recycling processes, hydrometallurgical equipment, and project solutions, please contact:

TYIC
Hangzhou Tianyicheng New Energy Technology Co.

International Project Manager: Jenny Yan

E-mail: info@tyic.net

Tel: +86-0571-83733369

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the U.S. battery waste export restriction officially taken effect?

Currently, the executive order mainly provides an authorization framework. The specific implementation scope will depend on subsequent regulations from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

What materials may be affected?

Potentially affected materials include used batteries, tungsten, lithium, permanent magnet material waste, and other industrial by-products containing critical minerals.

Are companies using only domestic raw materials affected?

They may be indirectly affected. Changes in global waste trade flows could influence raw material prices and market competition.

As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, battery recycling companies need to focus more on supply chain security, process flexibility, and resource recovery capabilities. Optimizing recycling technologies and engineering solutions in advance will be essential for maintaining competitiveness in the future.