Lithium used batteries in circular economy

Used batteries can end in all different paths but there is a high probability that on whichever electronic device you're reading this text, the lithium-ion battery has lived many cycles; in other words: you can be sure that your phone or laptop may have recycled lithium or cobalt. 

Lithium-ion batteries are used in electronics such as automobiles, consoles, and tablets. 

Current procedures for retired batteries mainly include dumping, recycling and reusing. 

And recycling can result in both financial and environmental benefits; however, it should consider economic, environmental, technological, and various market standpoints.

The concept of reuse is the idea of giving something a second life and is considered more environmentally friendly because, in the circular economy ( the use, reuse, and recycling of resources in a closed loop, minimizing waste and pollution. The goal of a circular economy is to keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them while in use, and then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of their service life.) it is the last step before recycling.

One way to reuse lithium batteries is by repurposing them for different devices. An old laptop battery, for instance, can be repurposed as a generator or solar panel.  

Whenever a battery's functionality has been lost, its components should be recycled. An essential factor is to recover the most precious metals, such as lithium or cobalt. 

Reusing lithium batteries is suitable for environmental conditions and for our wallets. By repurposing, reconditioning, and recycling them, we can reduce the amount of waste in landfills and conserve practical resources. We must take a commitment to our used batteries and ensure they are disposed of properly. That will not only help to protect the environment, but it will also help to ensure that the batteries will continue to be available for future generations.

''In actuality, there are emerging companies that are betting on dedicating themselves exclusively to this activity. One reference is the Canadian company Li-Cycle, the leader in lithium recovery in the USA and with proliferation plans for Europe and Asia'

' Adam, Brian. “Lithium Battery recycling.” voonze.com. Tech Smart, 16 Nov. 2021. Web. 30 Jan. 2023.

<https://voonze.com/lithium-battery-recycling-an-investment-option>.

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