Battery recycling allows for the safe management of used batteries and accumulators, enabling the recovery of materials that can be returned to the economy. Wastes Service Group supports businesses with the collection, transport, classification, dismantling, and mechanical processing of batteries, with a particular focus on NMC, NCA, and LFP lithium-ion batteries. Thanks to properly designed processes, it is possible to recover materials such as copper, aluminum, and fractions containing lithium, nickel, and cobalt.
In practice, users often search for terms like "battery disposal." However, in technical and legal language, it is more accurate to use terms such as collection, processing, recycling, recovery, and—for fractions that cannot be recovered—disposal. This is why professional battery management does not end with collection but encompasses the entire safe waste handling chain.
Battery recycling is a set of processes aimed at recovering materials and raw materials from used batteries. The technology depends on the chemistry, design, format, and technical condition of the battery. Lead-acid, alkaline, or nickel batteries are processed differently than modern lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, electronics, power tools, and energy storage systems.
A typical handling chain may include:
The term "battery disposal" is commonly used in search engines and everyday language, but it may imply merely getting rid of waste. Recycling has a broader goal: recovering valuable materials and reintroducing them into the economic cycle. From the perspective of a circular economy, recycling and recovery should take precedence over final disposal.
For businesses, this means that choosing a partner for battery management should consider not only the collection of waste but also transport safety, the ability to identify battery chemistry, processing methods, and the subsequent management of the resulting fractions.
Li-Ion batteries require particularly controlled handling due to their stored energy, flammable electrolyte, and the risk of thermal runaway. The process must minimize the risk of short circuits, mechanical damage, and uncontrolled heating of the cells.
More about the Wastes Service Group process: recycling of Li-Ion NMC, NCA, and LFP batteries.
There is no single universal process for all batteries. The processing method depends on their composition and design. The waste stream includes portable, industrial, SLI starter, light means of transport (LMT), and electric vehicle batteries.
For lithium-ion technology, the following chemistries are particularly important:
Separating different chemistries is important for both safety and the quality of the recovered fractions. LFP, in particular, differs in terms of economics and material composition from nickel- and cobalt-rich chemistries, which is why proper stream identification is crucial for the subsequent process.
A used battery is not a homogeneous waste product. Depending on the technology and design, it may contain many recoverable materials. In the case of lithium-ion batteries, these include:
There is no single universal "recovery rate" for every battery. The result depends on factors such as chemistry, design, process boundaries, and calculation methodology. EU regulations define recycling efficiency based on battery weight separately from the recovery levels of specific materials.
Not every used battery is automatically classified as hazardous waste. Classification depends on the type of battery, its composition, its condition, and the appropriate waste code. Regardless, many batteries require specific storage, transport, and processing protocols due to chemical, electrical, or fire hazards.
In Li-Ion batteries, the primary danger is not metallic lithium—which typical lithium-ion cells generally do not contain—but rather the high energy stored in the cell, the flammable electrolyte, and the risk of thermal runaway. Damage, short-circuiting, overheating, or improper charging can lead to a rapid temperature spike and fire.
EU Delegated Decision (EU) 2025/934 updates the list of battery-related waste. New codes will apply from December 9, 2026, introducing a more detailed classification for lithium, nickel, sodium, and mixed batteries, as well as waste from battery production and processing.
Safe recycling begins before the production line even starts. Batteries must be properly classified, protected against short circuits and damage, and transported in accordance with requirements specific to the type of cargo and the condition of the batteries. Damaged, swollen, heated, or potentially thermally unstable batteries require special procedures.
Wastes Service Group provides its own transport and safe battery storage solutions, including specialized containers and bins. More information: safe battery storage and transport.
Used batteries should not be disposed of in mixed municipal waste. Consumers can use selective collection points and designated drop-off locations as provided by law. From August 18, 2025, distributor obligations are derived directly from Regulation (EU) 2023/1542. As a general rule, the collection of used batteries from end-users is free of charge and cannot be conditional upon the purchase of a new battery, taking into account the range of categories offered by the distributor.
For businesses, manufacturers, importers, service centers, logistics hubs, and industrial plants, the appropriate solution is organized collection by an authorized entity and transfer of the batteries to the correct processing facility. Wastes Service Group handles such streams in a B2B model, combining logistics with recycling and material recovery.
Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 introduces separate targets for collection, recycling efficiency, and material recovery. These indicators should not be conflated.
Minimum recycling efficiency from December 31, 2025, is 65% for lithium batteries, rising to 70% from December 31, 2030. For lead-acid batteries, the levels are 75% and 80%, respectively.
For material recovery, targets from December 31, 2027, are 90% for cobalt, copper, lead, and nickel, and 50% for lithium. From December 31, 2031, these will increase to 95% for cobalt, copper, lead, and nickel, and 80% for lithium. Separate targets are defined for the collection of portable and LMT batteries.
For companies placing batteries on the market, collection, target levels, and reporting are part of a broader extended producer responsibility system. See also: fulfillment of producer obligations.
Wastes Service Group operates a lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Wszemirow, which officially opened in September 2025. The infrastructure includes mechanical recycling stages, controlled battery preparation, dismantling, and material separation. The facility handles batteries used in sectors such as electromobility and industry, including NMC, NCA, and LFP chemistries.
For business clients, the key is combining several competencies into a single chain: collection, secure logistics, battery condition assessment, dismantling, mechanical processing, and preparing recovered materials for further use. This approach reduces the number of logistics operations and allows for better control of waste flow from the point of origin to the recycling process.
Do you need battery collection or management services? Describe the type of battery, chemistry, quantity, technical condition, and collection location. The Wastes Service Group team will determine the appropriate procedure and logistics solution for your specific waste stream. Contact Wastes Service Group.
Battery recycling involves identification, safe preparation, dismantling, shredding, and material separation, followed by the recovery of specific raw materials. The exact process depends on the battery's chemistry and design.
Not in a technical sense. "Disposal" is a colloquial term for waste management. Recycling refers to processing that leads to material recovery, whereas neutralization applies to fractions that cannot be recovered further.
Recycling covers NMC, NCA, LFP, and other Li-Ion variants from electric vehicles, industrial equipment, power tools, electronics, and energy storage systems.
Black mass is a fine fraction produced after the mechanical processing of various lithium-ion batteries. It contains active electrode material and can serve as a raw material for the further recovery of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, depending on the battery chemistry.
No. Classification depends on the type of battery, its composition, condition, and the appropriate waste code. However, many batteries require specific storage and transport protocols due to chemical, electrical, and fire hazards.
Yes. Wastes Service Group provides business clients with collection, transport, and management services for batteries. Terms depend on the type, quantity, condition, chemistry, and collection location.
Preparation methods depend on the type and condition of the batteries. Batteries should not be cut, punctured, or disassembled without following proper procedures. Damaged, swollen, or overheated batteries require a separate assessment and specific safety measures before transport.
