Envirostream snares LG battery recycling contract

Lithium ion battery recycler Envirostream has won a contract from Korean-owned LG ENERGY Solutions (LGES) to process its spent residential and grid-scale lithium-ion batteries at its Victorian plant.

Envirostream, a subsidiary of Lithium Australia, will process a minimum of 250 tonnes of LG batteries a year, equal to about 5,000 batteries and about 25 per cent of Envirostream’s current battery collection volumes.

It will then be able to earn revenues for the sale of materials including mixed metal dust – Envirostream recycles more than 90 percent a lithium-ion battery to its core components including steel, copper, aluminium and critical battery metals.

The mixed metal dust can be repurposed into new lithium-ion battery anode and cathode powders.

Envirostream general manager Andrew Mackenzie said: “LGES shares our aspirations of an ethical and sustainable future for the global battery industry.

“Making these batteries available to Envirostream for recycling demonstrates LGES’s commitment to our shared vision.”

The agreement lasts until 31 August, 2023, and continues thereafter on a rolling six-month basis.

Mackenzie said the company had been providing recycling services to LGES since 2018 and had processed more than 85 tonnes of batteries.

“It is very pleasing to see LGES commit to Envirostream as its Australian battery recycling partner for these new volumes.”

Envirostream is seeking similar contracts with other lithium-ion batter suppliers.

Picture: Envirostream/battery shredding equipment