Survey claims Americans increasingly concerned about EV battery disposal despite recycling’s growth

A new study commissioned by battery materials recycler Ascend Elements, Westborough, Massachusetts, claims 71 percent of U.S. adults say they are concerned about disposal of used electric vehicle (EV) batteries, up from 54 percent in 2022. About 56 percent of respondents say EV batteries will cause “toxic landfills,” up from 48 percent in 2022.

The company says these concerns may be linked to a fundamental misunderstanding about the recyclability of EV batteries, though nearly 40 percent of respondents think lithium-ion EV batteries are not recyclable—a decrease from 47 percent in 2022.

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Ascend says the annual study was conducted by an independent research firm to survey a random sample of 1,004 U.S. consumers about their beliefs and attitudes regarding lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and EVs. The margin of error is +/-3 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.

“When I see this data, I can’t help thinking we’re not doing enough to educate the public about lithium-ion battery recycling,” says Eric Gratz, Ascend’s co-founder and chief technology officer. “Lithium-ion batteries, including EV batteries, are recyclable. The metals inside an EV battery are incredibly valuable and infinitely recyclable. I would expect electric vehicle batteries to end up in landfills about as often as gold bars.”

According to Ascend, it recovers up to 98 percent of the critical metals in EV batteries before using its Hydro-to-Cathode process to manufacture new, sustainable EV battery materials known as cathode precursor (pCAM) and cathode active material (CAM). The company notes it currently has the capacity to recycle 30,000 metric tons of EV batteries per year, or about 70,000 EV batteries annually—approximately 20 percent of North America’s current LIB recycling capacity.

Still, the company says myths and misinformation about EV battery recycling continue. “The industry has made terrific advances in the efficiency and economics of lithium-ion battery recycling, but these false narratives about EV batteries continue,” says Ascend Vice President of Government Affairs Roger Lin. “We are changing that by creating an infrastructure that would make it unthinkable to let a lithium-ion battery go to landfill. They are just too valuable.”

Survey data claims Americans are learning how to recycle other types of LIBs. Twenty-one percent of respondents say LIBs can be recycled in the household recycling bin, down from 33 percent in 2022. Additionally, 15 percent say LIBs can be put in the household trash, down from 27 percent in 2022.

“For the record, lithium-ion batteries should never be put in the trash or the household recycling bin,” Gratz says. “While I’d like to see universal awareness of these basic recycling facts, the survey data suggests we’ve made some progress since last year.”

Noting that improper disposal of LIBs can cause fires and explosions in waste management facilities and recycling centers, Gratz says used LIBs should be dropped off at authorized collection points.

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Ascend says the survey also reveals several opportunities for continued education about household LIB use and recycling:

• Only 40 percent of survey respondents understand they should not charge an e-bike or electric scooter battery unattended or overnight.
• Over 60 percent say they understand a LIB should not be left plugged in when it’s not charging.
• About 42 percent of survey respondents say they understand they should cover the battery terminals with electrical tape or place it in a clear plastic bag before recycling.
• About 30 percent of respondents say they know not to recycle damaged or recalled LIBs in the same way they recycle other LIBs.

Ascend says the survey points to an industry-wide need for improved consumer education and outreach about LIBs and battery recycling.