Batteries are everywhere. In phones, laptops, toys, remotes, power tools, even electric vehicles—almost everything portable runs on them. But once they’re drained, the story doesn’t end. In fact, the real problem starts when we throw them away.
According to the United Nations, the world generated over 62 billion kilograms of e-waste in 2022, with batteries being one of the fastest-growing contributors. Yet only 17.4% of this waste is formally collected and recycled. For lithium-ion batteries, the situation is worse—less than 5% are recycled globally, despite being highly flammable and filled with toxic materials like cobalt, nickel, and lithium (International Energy Agency, 2023). Most of us toss them in the trash without a second thought. But the chemicals inside batteries don’t just disappear—they leak into soil, poison water, and release hazardous gases when incinerated. This isn’t just an environmental crisis; it’s a public health threat.
The good news is that batteries are highly recyclable. The bad news? Our systems to collect and recycle them are failing—and we’re running out of time to fix them.
Why Battery Recycling Matters
Batteries are made from valuable and limited resources like lithium, cobalt, lead, and nickel. Extracting these materials through mining is incredibly destructive to the environment and often comes at a human cost, too. Over 70% of the world’s cobalt supply comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where child labor and unsafe mining practices are widespread. Mining also consumes enormous amounts of water and contributes to deforestation, carbon emissions, and soil degradation.
Recycling batteries significantly reduces the need for new mining. Many of the metals used in batteries can be recovered and reused, lowering the environmental burden while conserving scarce resources. Plus, recycling uses far less energy than mining and refining virgin materials. In short, recycling is not just a cleaner solution—it’s a smarter one.
Yet despite all these benefits, the recycling rate remains dangerously low. Why? Because in most countries, the policies are weak, infrastructure is patchy, and people simply don’t know what to do with their used batteries.
Where Policy Is Failing Us
Many governments have introduced laws to regulate battery waste, but most fall short in practice. The problem isn’t just the lack of laws—though that’s true in many places—it’s the lack of enforcement, funding, and accountability. For example, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws are supposed to make manufacturers responsible for collecting and recycling batteries they sell. But without monitoring systems or consequences for non-compliance, many companies treat these rules as optional.
To fix this, we need clear and enforceable rules that don’t just sound good on paper. Governments must require all producers and importers of batteries to meet mandatory collection and recycling targets. Compliance needs to be monitored regularly, with meaningful penalties for companies that fail to deliver. At the same time, public education campaigns should inform people about how and where to return their batteries. None of this works unless the system is easy to use and visible to the average person.
How Deposit Refund and Take-Back Systems Can Help
One practical way to increase battery recycling is through a deposit refund system. It’s a simple idea that’s proven to work in other industries. When a consumer buys a battery, they pay a small deposit—say, a few rupees or cents—which is refunded when the used battery is returned to a designated collection point. It’s a built-in incentive to return batteries instead of dumping them.
Take-back programs are another essential part of the solution. Retailers and manufacturers should be required to provide easily accessible return points for used batteries. Some companies already offer this, but participation is voluntary and inconsistent. With clear policy support, every electronics shop, supermarket, or battery retailer could become part of the collection network.
Deposit and take-back systems do two things at once: they encourage consumers to return batteries and they create a reliable flow of waste materials for recycling centers. Most importantly, they make battery recycling feel like a normal, everyday action—not a special or complicated chore.
Building a Reverse Supply Chain
We already have an efficient “forward” supply chain to manufacture and sell batteries. What we lack is a strong “reverse” supply chain to take used batteries back from the consumer to the recycler. A proper reverse logistics system would include secure storage and transport of battery waste, centralized collection hubs, partnerships between retailers and recyclers, and digital tools to track the movement of waste.
This isn’t just about physical logistics. A reverse supply chain helps close the loop in what should be a circular economy—where materials flow continuously through the system rather than ending up in landfills. With the right investment and planning, reverse logistics can turn waste into raw material, creating jobs and reducing environmental harm at the same time.
What You Can Do
While policy is essential, individuals have a role to play too. If you use batteries—and we all do—you can start by storing used ones safely at home until you find a recycling point. Don’t throw them in the trash. Ask your local electronics store if they accept used batteries. Choose rechargeable batteries whenever possible. Support companies that take responsibility for recycling. Most importantly, talk about it. Change spreads faster when more people care.
Why This Matters Now
The battery problem isn’t a distant worry—it’s a growing reality. With electric vehicles, solar panels, and smart devices on the rise, global battery demand is projected to grow fivefold by 2030 (IEA, 2023). Without a plan for end-of-life management, today’s battery boom could become tomorrow’s toxic disaster.
But this doesn’t have to be the story. If governments create strong policies, if companies are held accountable, and if people are given clear ways to participate, battery recycling can become a normal, effective, and sustainable system.
Imagine a future where every battery we use finds its way back into the system—metals recovered, waste minimized, and new batteries made from old ones. That kind of material circularity isn’t just environmentally smart—it also supports local industries, boosts domestic manufacturing, and aligns with the vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. By reducing import dependency on raw materials and investing in recycling infrastructure, we can turn waste into opportunity.
Because in the end, sustainability isn’t a side goal—it’s the foundation. And circularity isn’t optional—it’s the way forward.
– ALN Rao, Head of Circularity, Recykal
