Rapid growth in electric vehicle sales has led to massive increases in battery waste. If improperly handled, this poses serious environmental harm, resource loss, and regulatory risks—top-tier battery recycling companies have developed scalable solutions to mitigate these issues.
This overview highlights ten leading battery recycling firms that dominate global markets. From lithium-ion to lead-acid batteries, these companies recover critical metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel via advanced, sustainable processes and closed-loop systems.
Read on to explore each company’s capabilities, technologies, and market positioning in the increasingly vital field of battery recycling.
Table of Contents
Umicore
| Headquarters: | Brussels, Belgium |
| Establishment: | 1805 |
| Website: | https://www.umicore.com/ |
Umicore, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, is a global leader in material recovery and battery recycling. With advanced hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes, the company achieves high recovery rates for cobalt, nickel, copper, and lithium from spent batteries. A pioneer in the circular economy, Umicore operates one of Europe’s largest battery recycling plants and continuously expands its closed-loop approach to ensure sustainable material reuse. Revenue in 2023 exceeded €11 billion, with a significant portion attributed to battery material recycling applications. Umicore’s focus on innovation and environmental compliance has made it a cornerstone in global battery recycling.
Ecobat, LLC
| Headquarters: | Texas, United States |
| Establishment: | 1938 |
| Website: | https://ecobat.com/ |
Ecobat, based in the UK and US, is a leading recycler of lead-acid batteries and increasingly lithium-ion cells. Operating a network of closed-loop recycling facilities across North America and Europe, Ecobat achieves over 90% material recovery rates. Using mechanical, hydrometallurgical, and pyrometallurgical techniques, the company repurposes recovered lead into refining and battery production, significantly reducing environmental impact. Its commitment to sustainability and resource efficiency positions Ecobat as a model for large-scale industrial recycling practices.
Glencore plc
| Headquarters: | Baar, Switzerland |
| Establishment: | 1974 |
| Website: | https://www.glencore.com/ |
Glencore, headquartered in Switzerland, is a major commodity trading and mining giant that has expanded into the battery recycling arena. Combining its global mining operations with recycling capabilities, Glencore recovers cobalt, nickel, lithium, and other critical metals from spent batteries. In 2023, the company generated over USD 217 billion in revenues, with battery recycling forming an increasingly strategic segment. By integrating extraction and recycling, Glencore ensures resource efficiency and broad supply chain resilience.
TYIC NEW ENERGY
| Headquarters: | Hangzhou, China |
| Establishment: | 2010 |
| Website: | https://tyichemical.com/ |
TYIC NEW ENERGY (Hangzhou Tianyicheng New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.) is a Chinese technology provider and equipment manufacturer specializing in lithium-ion battery recycling systems. Their modular extraction and purification units support high-purity recovery of lithium, cobalt, and nickel at battery-grade levels. TYIC NEW ENERGY’s expertise in process engineering and equipment design supports integration into recycling ecosystems, offering scalable, efficient solutions for industrial-scale recovery.
American Battery Technology Company (ABTC)
| Headquarters: | Nevada, United States |
| Establishment: | 2011 |
| Website: | https://americanbatterytechnology.com/ |
Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Reno, Nevada, ABTC employs an advanced hydrometallurgical process to recycle lithium-ion batteries. In 2022, it received a $57 million DOE grant to build a commercial-scale plant in Nevada, enabling production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide from recycled resources. ABTC’s fully integrated technology recovers lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other critical elements, positioning it as an innovative U.S. player in materials circularity.
East Penn Manufacturing
| Headquarters: | Pennsylvania, United States |
| Establishment: | 1946 |
| Website: | https://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/ |
East Penn Manufacturing, one of North America’s largest lead-acid battery producers, has developed a robust in-house recycling system. With vertically integrated production and recycling capabilities, East Penn recovers lead and plastic from spent batteries to re-manufacture new units. Its closed-loop model minimizes waste and energy consumption, reinforcing product resilience and supply chain reliability. East Penn continues to expand its recycling footprint across the U.S. with environmentally compliant operations.
RecycLiCo Battery Materials Inc.
| Headquarters: | Surrey, Canada |
| Establishment: | 1987 |
| Website: | https://recyclico.com/ |
RecycLiCo (Vancouver, Canada) operates with a patented hydrometallurgical technology for selective recovery of lithium, cobalt, and nickel from spent lithium-ion batteries. Its process yields high-purity battery-grade materials with minimal environmental footprint. With an increasing EV battery recycling demand, RecycLiCo’s scalable platform targets critical mineral shortages and supports sustainable supply chains across North America.
Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd
| Headquarters: | Jiangxi Province, China |
| Establishment: | 2000 |
| Website: | https://www.ganfenglithium.com/ |
Based in Jiangxi Province, China, Ganfeng Lithium is one of the world’s largest lithium producers and is actively building battery recycling capabilities. With integrated operations in lithium extraction, battery manufacturing, and recycling, Ganfeng runs recycling plants that process over 20,000 tons/year of spent batteries. Their closed-loop model supports automotive, energy storage, and electronics sectors with recycled lithium carbonate and hydroxide.
Exide Industries Limited
| Headquarters: | West Bengal, India |
| Establishment: | 1947 |
| Website: | https://www.exideindustries.com/ |
Exide Industries (India) is a major global manufacturer and recycler of lead-acid batteries. Operating multiple recycling plants in India, Exide recovers nearly 99% of lead and sulfuric acid used in its production process. Its large-scale recycling infrastructure and historical expertise make it a long-standing player in closed-loop battery management.
EnerSys
| Headquarters: | Pennsylvania, United States |
| Establishment: | 2000 |
| Website: | https://www.enersys.com/ |
EnerSys, headquartered in Pennsylvania, USA, is a global provider of industrial power systems and energy storage solutions. It integrates lead-acid and lithium-ion battery recycling into its broader energy portfolio. Through proprietary recycling partnerships and facilities, EnerSys ensures recovered materials re-enter production cycles, supporting corporate sustainability and operational efficiency.
Summary
These global leaders in battery recycling drive innovation and sustainability, enabling recovery of critical materials and supporting the transition to circular energy systems.
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