Re-Use of High Value Metal Resources from Batteries

The UK has no processing facilities for portable battery waste with all collected batteries being exported. An urgent solution is required as existing regulations require greater battery collection from consumers, and has prompted battery retailers to offer collection points. Several thousand tonnes of harmful battery waste are presently going to landfill, and an economically viable process is required to recycle these valuable materials and reduce landfill.

The project is funded by The Technology Strategy Board through their Resource efficiency call and comprises a consortium of CPI, G&P Batteries, Augean PLC, and IIT Ltd. Utilising its knowledge of sustainable processing CPI is working with its partners to design a process to recover these metals for re-supply into manufacturing and agricultural industries. When developed the techniques can be applied to other high metal concentrated waste streams.