Spent Lithium-ion batteries. Only 5 per cent of Lithium-ion batteries are recycled. Image: Samarn Plubkilang/Shutterstock.com A Singapore-based startup claims to have found a solution to the world’s electronic waste problem—a new way to recycle the rechargeable batteries that power portable electronics and electric vehicles. The company, called Green Li-ion, says its technology can recycle Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries much faster than conventional processes, using less energy and producing less waste. It is touted as the only technology in the world capable of fully recovering the precious metals in the cathode component of batteries. Green Li-ion says its GLMC-1 system could be a game-changer for electronics manufacturers and the energy storage industry, which faces a looming waste crisis and increasing scrutiny from regulators. Some two million metric tonnes of Li-ion battery waste is projected to be generated annually by 2030 as demand for portable gadgets and electric cars balloons. The lifespan of Li-ion batteries is typically one to three years, and 95 per cent of portable power packs end up in landfill as flammable toxic waste that can contaminate soil and groundwater. Though recyclable, Li-ion batteries are difficult and expensive to recycle, and the electronics industry has focused on extending battery […]
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