Batteries are expensive and have a relatively short life span. As discarded batteries grow by the tonnage, entrepreneurs are enticed to start a business in recycling. With an annual world market (2015) of $33 billion, lead acid is the most common battery in use. This is followed by Li-ion at $16.6 billion, NiMH at $2 billion and NiCd at $1 billion. All other chemistries only make up $1 billion. Table 1 lists the material cost per ton to build these batteries.
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Battery Chemistry Metal Value (per ton)* Recycling Lithium cobalt oxide $25,000Subsidy needed
Cobalt $50,000 Relevant, subsidy Lithium iron phosphate $400Subsidy needed
Lead acid $1,500 Profitable Nickel$10,000–$17,000Subsidy neededCadmium$2,200Subsidy neededTable 1: Metal value per ton of batteryLithium-ion batteries are expensive to manufacture and this is in part due to the high material cost and complex preparation processes. The most expensive metal of most Li-ion is cobalt, a hard lustrous gray material that is also used to manufacture magnets and high-strength alloys.
Knowing that billions of Li-ion batteries are discarded every year and given the high cost of lithium cobalt oxide, salvaging precious metals should make economic sense and one wonders why so few companies recycle these batteries.
The reason becomes clear when examining the complexity and low yield of recycling. The retrieved raw material barely pays for labor, which includes collection, transport, sorting into batteries chemistries, shredding, separation of metallic and non-metallic materials, neutralizing hazardous substances, smelting, and purification of the recovered metals.
Recycling programs for lead acid are said to have started soon after Cadillac introduced the cranking motor in 1912 as a for-profit business rather than protecting the environment. Recycling can be harmful, especially with lead acid batteries. Lead can enter the body by inhaling or ingestion when touching the mouth with lead-contaminated hands. This puts workers and residents of the surrounding areas at risk of lead poisoning. (See BU-703: Health Concerns with Batteries)
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has imposed strict guidelines in recycling of lead acid batteries in the USA. The recycling plants must be sealed and the smokestacks fitted with scrubbers. To check for possible escape of lead particles, the plant perimeter must be surrounded with lead-monitoring devices. Rules are bound to be broken and batteries soon end up in Mexico and other developing countries with relaxed regulations. China, a leader in lead acid battery production, also took action to protect the environment by introducing strict guidelines that only reputable companies can meet.
Nickel-based batteries can also be recycled and the retrieved materials are iron and nickel, which are used in stainless steel production. Nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) yields the highest return in nickel, and with ample supply recycling is said to make money. Low demand for cadmium has reduced the profitability from recycling NiCd batteries. The growth in batteries is with Li-ion but valuable materials are difficult to retrieve. This makes Li-ion less attractive for recycling and a financial breakeven may not be possible without subsidies.
The true cost to manufacture Li-ion is not so much in the raw materials, as is the case with lead acid and NiMH, but in lengthy processing and purification processes of the raw materials to reach battery grade. Retrieving lithium at only 3 percent of the cell mix may never reach break-even levels. If the purity of lithium is below 99.5 percent, then it is not suitable as raw material for batteries. Recycling brings the metal to ground zero, from which costly preparations begin anew. It is often cheaper to mine raw material than to retrieve it from recycling. Lithium from recycled batteries is commonly used for non-battery applications, such as lubricating greases that are found in WD-40 and other products, rather than batteries. (See BU-308: Availability of Lithium)
Direct recycling technologies for lithium-ion batteries my offer a solution in refining used Li-ion into high value cathode and anode materials. Direct recycling may become profitable if the technology can be developed to large-scale processing made possible with high volume EV batteries reaching end-of-life. Direct recycling is said to be cleaner than older methods that melt the material.
Although alkaline and zinc-carbon account for over 90 percent of batteries consumed in the United States, they contain few precious metals and the toxicity is low. Organizations are seeking ways to recycle these batteries as well for the basic metal content and with high volume such a venture should become viable. Table 2 lists the typical metals content of commonly recycled batteries.
Fe
Iron
Mn
Manganese
Ni
Nickel
Zn
Zinc
Li
Lithium
Cd
Cadmium
Co
Cobalt
Al
Aluminum
Pb
Lead
65%
NiCd35%
22%
15%
NiMH20%
1%
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35%
1%
4%
Li-ion22%
3%
18%
5%
Alkaline24%
22%
15%
Table 2: Metals in commonly recycled batteries as a percentage of the overall contentEnvironmental issues and the ability to recycle play an important role when choosing a battery system. If the UPS operates mostly in standby and can provide longevity of 10 years, then lead acid is a strong contender. The preference of lead acid over Li-ion and nickel-based systems is manifested in moderate pricing, superior safety, dependable operation, and the ability to recycle. Table 3 compares the cost to manufacture and recycle batteries.
The primary objective of building a good battery is long life, safety and low price. Recycling is an afterthought and manufacturers do little to simplify the retrieving of precious metals. The recycling business is small compared to the vast battery industry, and to this day, only lead acid can be recycled profitably.
Nickel-based batteries might make money with good logistics, but Li-ion and most other chemistries yield too little in precious metals to make recycling a viable business without subsidies. The major expense with modern batteries is not so much the raw materials, as with lead acid, but lengthy preparations, purifications and processing down to micro- and nano-levels. Nevertheless, batteries contain valuable material that can be re-used for new products.
To make recycling feasible in the meantime, subsidies are created by adding a tax to each pack sold. The goal goes beyond retrieving metals for re-use to preventing toxic batteries from entering landfills. Combining the environmental benefit with making a profit is the ultimate goal, and this might become feasible with innovative new recycling processes in development.
Another model is to sort batteries into functional and non-functional groups and give those with capacities of 80 percent or more a second life. Cells and modules of larger battery systems can be tested individually and reassembled in a new pack(See BU-803: Can Batteries be Restored?)
Glass recycling is the oldest form of recycling in the United States and is exactly how TricorBraun was born. More than 100 years ago, a hardworking man came up with the idea to sell used glass bottles in St. Louis. His brilliant idea resulted in the start of our parent company, originally named Northwestern Bottle Company, in 1902.
Glass recycling is the process of recycling waste glass into other usable products. Did you know that glass is infinitely recyclable? That gives it the edge compared to recycling of other materials. For every ton of glass recycled, more than a ton of natural resources and raw materials are saved, including 1,300 pounds of sand, 410 pounds of soda ash, 380 pounds of limestone and 160 pounds of feldspar, according to Keep America Beautiful.
Not all types of glassware are accepted for recycling at each glass recycling facility, which makes it important to check with your local recycling drop-off center. Most glass that is used for food packaging, such as salsa jars and iced tea bottles, can be recycled.
However, the following types of glass are not generally able to be recycled locally:
When you are finished with a product contained in glass, it’s always a good idea to rinse it out before placing it in your recycling bin. This helps reduce odors and lessens the chance for contamination. Be sure to remove any closures that are not made of glass as well. In most cities, the easiest way to recycle glass is at your home by collecting and setting them by the curb on your recycling day.
If your community doesn’t offer curbside glass pick-up you may be able to find a local recycling system drop-off point. You can contact local recycling centers or city service departments to find this information.
Here’s step by step guide on how to recycle glass:
If your glass bottle or jar is broken, you should still be able to recycle it. This is because all glass is eventually crushed while being prepared for recycling. Furthermore, broken glass can generally be recycled with your local curbside recycling provider. However, it is important that they be called first to ensure that the broken glass will be taken, as some drop-off facilities do not accept already broken glass.
Glass that is crushed and ready to be melted is called cullet. There are two types of cullet: external and internal. Internal cullet is made from defective products that were rejected by a quality control process during glass manufacturing, production offcuts, and transition phases of product changes.
External cullet is considered to be a waste glass. It has been collected and/or reprocessed for recycling. External cullet can be pre or post-consumer usage.
As mentioned previously, the easiest way to recycle glass is through curbside pickup. Contact your local trash collector to see if they run a recycling program. These curbside pickups are usually performed every other week.
Some cities or municipalities have recycling drop-off collection sites where you can bring your glass to be collected and recycled. The last place you can recycle would be through a recycling facility. A quick internet search should help determine what’s right for you.
To summarize, glass is the first type of packaging to be recycled. Glass is infinitely recyclable and can be used to create new products over and over without any loss in quality. We have learned how to prepare glass for recycling along with a few options on where you can drop off glass packaging for processing.
Interested in learning how to recycle plastic? Read our post that breaks down how to recycle plastic.
Plus, recycling glass has a positive impact on the environment as well. According to the Glass Recycling Coalition, recycling glass “...lessens demand for energy and cuts CO2 emissions.” While the Glass Packaging Institute tells us that, “Recycled glass reduces emissions and consumption of raw materials, extends the life of plant equipment, such as furnaces, and saves energy.”
And remember, at TricorBraun we supply the highest quality glass products which can also be recycled to help reduce glass waste! If you are looking for a high-end look with the environment in mind, look no further than our glass jars and bottles!
Are you interested in learning more about pb recycling manufacturer? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!