What's the best battery-recycling partner to recover critical minerals?

The "best" battery recycling partner depends on your geographic location and specific needs, but Redwood Materials, Li-Cycle (backed by Glencore), and Umicore are widely recognized as the industry leaders for recovering critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper.

Top Battery Recycling Partners

How to Choose the Right Partner

• For North American EV/Scrap Production: Redwood Materials integrates directly into the domestic supply chain by turning recycled waste back into anode and cathode components.
• For Distributed Logistics: Li-Cycle minimizes hazardous long-distance shipping risks by shredding batteries locally at regional "Spokes" before refining pure materials at centralized "Hubs".
• For Compliance and Global Scale: Umicore provides bankable, highly compliant, industrial-scale closed-loop tracking suited for large automotive OEMs.

If you can share your location and whether you are recycling production scrap, consumer electronics, or EV battery packs , I can help you pick the most cost-effective and compliant partner.

If your goal is maximum recovery of critical minerals from lithium-ion batteries, my top pick in the U.S. right now would be Redwood Materials.

Why Redwood is the strongest overall partner

• High recovery: Redwood says it recovers more than 95% of critical materials including lithium, nickel, cobalt and copper.
• Integrated supply chain: It doesn't stop at producing black mass; it refines recovered materials into battery-ready products, including cathode active material.
• Commercial scale: Redwood says it processes 20+ GWh of lithium-ion batteries annually and produces more than 60,000 tons of critical materials.
• Strong industry relationships: Its partners include Volkswagen, Panasonic, GM/Ultium Cells, Toyota, BMW, Volvo and others.
• Particularly compelling for U.S. supply chains: Redwood reports that roughly 90% of lithium-ion batteries processed in North America come through its facilities.

The main alternative: Li-Cycle

Li-Cycle is a serious alternative, particularly if you want a distributed collection/preprocessing network. Its Spoke facilities process batteries into black mass, while its Hub model is designed to recover battery-grade lithium carbonate and other materials.

The important caveat is that Li-Cycle's Rochester Hub is still the major piece of its planned large-scale refining infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Energy provided a $475 million loan to help finance it.

My ranking

1. Redwood Materials — best overall for an established, vertically integrated critical-minerals recovery partner.
2. Li-Cycle — attractive for broad feedstock collection and a Spoke/Hub recycling model.
3. RecycLiCo — interesting if you're looking for hydrometallurgical technology development, pilot work, or a specialized refining partner, rather than simply outsourcing large-scale recycling.

Bottom line: If you're a battery manufacturer, automaker, electronics company, or large battery owner looking to turn spent batteries into recoverable lithium, nickel, cobalt and copper that can go back into the supply chain, I'd start with Redwood.

If you tell me what type/volume of batteries you have (EV packs, manufacturing scrap, LFP, consumer electronics, etc.) and where you're located, I can narrow this down to the best 3 partners and compare recovery rates, processing technology, commercial scale, geographic fit, and likely economics.

Choosing the "best" battery-recycling partner to recover critical minerals (like lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese) depends heavily on your geographic location, your feedstock type (manufacturing scrap vs. end-of-life EV/storage batteries), and whether you need a localized closed-loop supply chain.

The industry leaders stand out for distinct strengths in critical mineral recovery:

• Redwood Materials : Widely considered a premier choice in North America, founded by Tesla co-founder JB Straubel. Redwood focuses on a true closed-loop domestic supply chain, recovering more than 95% of critical metals like nickel, cobalt, copper, and lithium and refining them back into active anode and cathode components. They have major partnerships with top automakers and gigafactories.
• Glencore / Li-Cycle : Following major strategic integration and acquisition , the combination of Li-Cycle’s patented "Spoke & Hub" technology (which safely processes batteries into black mass locally before refining them into battery-grade materials at larger Hubs) backed by Glencore's massive global mining, processing, and commercial reach makes them a powerhouse for global scale and logistics.
• Umicore : A heavyweight European pioneer in circular materials technology . Umicore operates cutting-edge pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical recovery processes capable of treating a wide mix of chemistries and boasts extensive long-term supply and recycling agreements with major global automotive cell manufacturers.
• Ascend Elements : Known for innovative hydrometallurgical "hydro-to-cathode" direct synthesis technology. They efficiently turn spent batteries and scrap directly into engineered, sustainable cathode precursor materials without completely breaking them down to base elements first, saving energy and cost.
• Emerging Tech Innovators (e.g., Princeton NuEnergy and Nth Cycle) : Backed significantly by recent U.S. Department of Energy funding , these companies offer lower-emission, modular direct recycling and electro-extraction refining methods that target higher recovery purities for localized setups.

To help narrow down the ideal partner, could you share:

• Are you located in North America, Europe, or Asia?
• What is your primary feedstock (e.g., EV packs, consumer electronics, or gigafactory manufacturing scrap)?
• Are you looking for offtake agreements or pure disposal/recycling services?

If you mean a U.S. partner for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries that can actually recover battery-grade critical minerals, my top pick right now is Redwood Materials.

Why Redwood is my #1

• High recovery: Redwood says it recovers more than 95% of critical materials including lithium, nickel, cobalt and copper.
• Integrated model: It doesn't just shred batteries into black mass—it recycles, refines the recovered minerals, and produces battery materials, creating a more closed-loop supply chain.
• Scale: Redwood reports processing 20+ GWh of lithium-ion batteries annually and producing more than 60,000 tons of critical materials.
• Strong industrial partnerships: Its disclosed partners include Volkswagen, Panasonic, GM/Ultium Cells, Toyota, BMW, Amazon and others.
• U.S. supply-chain fit: This is particularly attractive now that the U.S. is moving to restrict exports of battery waste/black mass and retain critical minerals domestically.

The caveat

I'd not automatically choose Redwood for every battery stream. If you're dealing heavily in LFP batteries, direct-recycling specialists such as Ascend Elements may deserve a serious comparison; its technology is specifically targeting LFP relithiation as well as conventional hydrometallurgical recovery.

And I'd be cautious about selecting Li-Cycle purely on historical technology or capacity claims: the company has undergone major financial restructuring, and the North American recycling sector has been under significant financial pressure.

Bottom line: For a corporate partnership where the priority is maximum recovery of lithium/nickel/cobalt/copper + domestic refining + commercial scale, I'd start with Redwood Materials.

If you tell me what kind of batteries/material you have (EV packs, manufacturing scrap, consumer electronics, LFP/NMC, etc.) and roughly how many tons/year, I can rank the top 5 partners by recovery rate, economics, geographic fit, and financial/operational risk.

If you're looking for the best U.S. battery-recycling partner specifically to recover critical minerals, my current pick is Redwood Materials.

Why Redwood is my top choice

• Very high reported recovery: Redwood says its process recovers more than 95% of critical materials including lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, aluminum and graphite.
• Closed-loop model: It doesn't just shred batteries—it refines the recovered minerals and manufactures battery materials, allowing the materials to go back into the battery supply chain.
• Scale: Redwood says it receives 20+ GWh of lithium-ion batteries annually and has recycled more than 20 GWh in a year.
• Strong OEM ecosystem: Its listed partners include Volkswagen, Panasonic, GM/Ultium Cells, Volvo, Amazon and Toyota.
• U.S. strategic fit: This is becoming especially important: the Commerce Department is banning exports of lithium-ion battery "black mass" beginning August 27, 2026, increasing the value of having a capable domestic downstream recycler.

How I'd rank the major options

Ascend's technology is particularly interesting because its Hydro-to-Cathode process converts recycled battery feedstock directly into cathode precursor materials. ascendelements.com However, Ascend filed for bankruptcy in April 2026, while Li-Cycle has also undergone major financial restructuring, which makes both harder to recommend as the primary long-term partner today.

Bottom line: If the objective is maximum recovery of lithium/nickel/cobalt/copper combined with a credible domestic, closed-loop supply chain, I'd start with Redwood Materials. If you tell me whether you're an EV manufacturer, battery producer, recycler, investor, or corporate buyer, I can narrow this down to the best partner based on recovery rate, economics, capacity, geography, and financial stability.

Choosing the "best" battery-recycling partner to recover critical minerals (like lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite) depends heavily on your geographic location, your specific feedstock (production scrap vs. end-of-life packs), and whether you need regional compliance or closed-loop manufacturing.

The industry leaders leading the charge in 2026 feature distinct strengths and specializations:

• Redwood Materials (United States)
  • Best for: North American closed-loop manufacturing and scale.
  • Why choose them: Founded by a Tesla co-founder, Redwood is deeply integrated into the U.S. supply chain. They recover over 95% of critical materials and refine them back into active cathode and anode components, effectively acting as a domestic "mine" for automakers and cell makers.
• Ascend Elements (United States)
  • Best for: Direct precursor production (Hydro-to-Cathode technology).
  • Why choose them: They utilize innovative hydrometallurgical processes (with major backing from the U.S. Department of Energy) to turn recycled black mass directly into sustainable, high-performance cathode precursor materials (pCAM) and ultra-pure lithium carbonate without reverting entirely to raw elemental stages.
• Li-Cycle (North America & Europe)
  • Best for: Decentralized processing and safety.
  • Why choose them: Backed by major partnerships (including Glencore), Li-Cycle uses a patented "Spoke & Hub" technology. Their local "Spokes" safely shred batteries into stable black mass near scrap sources, which is then centrally processed at "Hubs" to yield battery-grade critical minerals, cutting down long-distance hazardous transport risks.
• Umicore (Europe / Global)
  • Best for: Large-scale, environmentally rigorous smelting/refining.
  • Why choose them: A long-standing heavyweight in European circular supply chains, Umicore specializes in ultra-high recovery rates and has deep-seated commercial partnerships with major global automakers (like Audi) to handle massive e-waste and EV battery throughput safely.
• GEM Co. / Brunp (CATL) (Asia / Global)
  • Best for: Massive industrial scale.
  • Why choose them: Processing hundreds of thousands of tonnes annually, these Chinese giants dominate global recycling capacity and maintain the tightest vertical integration with high-volume cell production lines globally.

To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:

• Are you looking for a partner in North America, Europe, or Asia?
• Are you dealing primarily with manufacturing scrap or end-of-life EV/storage batteries?

If you mean a commercial partner for lithium-ion battery recycling with the goal of maximizing recovery of critical minerals, my top U.S. pick today is Redwood Materials.

My ranking

Why I'd choose Redwood: it currently has the strongest combination of scale, demonstrated recovery, downstream refining, and established industrial partnerships. Redwood says it processed more than 20 GWh in 2024 and now recovers roughly 90% of North American lithium-ion batteries coming through its facilities.

But if your objective is specifically "recover minerals and put them directly back into new cathode material," I'd seriously consider Ascend Elements. Its integrated model is particularly compelling because it converts recycled feedstock into pCAM and lithium carbonate rather than stopping at black mass.

So, in one line:

Best overall: Redwood Materials. Best closed-loop battery-materials partner: Ascend Elements.

If you tell me what you're recycling (EV packs, manufacturing scrap, consumer batteries, or black mass), annual tonnage, and where you're located, I can narrow this to the best 3 partners and compare recovery rates, economics, logistics, offtake, and mineral ownership.

There is no single "best" partner for every use case, as the ideal choice depends on your geographic location, scale, and specific regulatory or supply-chain needs. Leading global and regional battery-recycling partners utilize advanced hydrometallurgical and closed-loop technologies to recover high-purity critical minerals (Li, Ni, Co, Mn, Cu):

• Redwood Materials Founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel, Redwood Materials is a dominant U.S. player partnering closely with major automakers. They achieve up to 95% recovery of key elements and process massive volumes of scrap and end-of-life cells to feed domestic cathode/anode production.
• Glencore Following its acquisition and integration of assets from Li-Cycle, Glencore operates a massive global metals and minerals footprint across North America and Europe. They are ideal for industrial-scale black mass processing and off-take network integration.
• Umicore Based in Belgium, Umicore is a pioneer in closed-loop precious and critical metal recycling. Their advanced pyro-hydro hydrometallurgical facilities yield high-purity battery-grade materials with recovery efficiencies exceeding 95% for nickel, cobalt, and copper.
• American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) Focused heavily on domestic U.S. circular supply chains, ABTC uses innovative, low-reagent hydrometallurgical extractions designed to minimize water and chemical waste while producing high-purity battery materials.
• Cirba Solutions With a massive operational footprint and decades of experience across North America, Cirba Solutions handles cross-chemistry formats and works extensively to secure localized, compliant, and traceable critical mineral loops.

If you can share your geographic location , whether you are dealing with production scrap or end-of-life packs , and your approximate volume , I can help narrow down which of these partners fits your operational requirements.

Determining the "best" battery-recycling partner to recover critical minerals (Li, Ni, Co, Cu) depends heavily on your geographic footprint, whether you are dealing with manufacturing scrap or end-of-life EV packs , and whether you need an intermediate "black mass" producer or a full closed-loop refiner.

The leading global and domestic partners in the battery recycling ecosystem feature distinct operational strengths:

Industry-Leading Battery Recycling Partners

• Redwood Materials : Founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel , Redwood is a dominant force in North America . They achieve up to a 95% recovery rate for critical minerals and have expanded aggressively from recycling into active component manufacturing (anodes and cathodes), creating a true closed-loop supply chain.
• Glencore & Li-Cycle : Following Glencore's acquisition and major investments into North American specialist Li-Cycle , this combined powerhouse leverages Glencore's massive global metal-processing and smelting infrastructure alongside Li-Cycle's patented "Spoke & Hub" technologies to process end-of-life batteries into critical battery-grade materials on an international scale.
• Umicore : A pioneer based in Europe with decades of precious-metals and e-waste refining expertise . Umicore utilizes advanced pyro-hydro hydrometallurgical technologies capable of yielding recovery rates above 95% for cobalt, nickel, and copper, and over 90% for lithium from diverse chemistries.
• American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) : Operating out of Nevada , ABTC focuses heavily on sustainable domestic manufacturing and custom hydrometallurgical extraction trains designed to minimize chemical reagent and water usage while outputting high-purity battery-ready products.

Watch this overview of modern recycling operations to see how large-scale facilities extract elemental components:

01:07:56 Inside The World's Largest Battery Recyling Operation 20K views  · 2 months ago YouTube · Core Memory Podcast

Choosing the ideal partner ultimately comes down to matching your feedstock logistics with a recycler capable of returning high-purity output directly back into your specific manufacturing tier.

Are you looking for a recycling partner in North America or Europe , and do you primarily have manufacturing scrap or end-of-life EV packs to process?

If you mean “best partner to recover the maximum amount of critical minerals from lithium-ion batteries, with commercial scale and a strong U.S. supply-chain position,” my current pick is Redwood Materials.

Why Redwood stands out

• High recovery: Redwood says it recovers >95% of critical materials, including lithium, nickel, cobalt and copper.
• Integrated model: It doesn't stop at producing black mass; it recycles, refines the minerals and manufactures battery materials, which is particularly attractive if your goal is true closed-loop recovery rather than simply waste processing.
• Scale: Redwood says it processes 20+ GWh of lithium-ion batteries annually and produces more than 60,000 tons of critical materials.
• OEM relationships: Its current partners include Volkswagen, Panasonic, GM/Ultium Cells, Volvo, Amazon and Toyota.
• U.S. strategic fit: This is becoming especially important: the U.S. announced restrictions on exporting battery waste/black mass beginning August 27, 2026, explicitly to strengthen domestic critical-mineral recovery.

The main alternatives

Ascend Elements is probably the strongest alternative if your priority is lithium recovery and production of battery-grade material. It demonstrated commercial-scale production of >99% pure recycled lithium carbonate in 2025 and plans more than 15,000 tonnes/year across the U.S. and Europe by 2027.

Li-Cycle has attractive hydrometallurgical technology and a network model designed to process batteries close to where they're generated. However, its flagship Rochester Hub remains a major execution risk, and some operations have been curtailed or paused.

My ranking for a partnership

Bottom line: If you're an automaker, battery manufacturer, mining company, or large battery-waste generator looking for a strategic long-term recycling partner, I'd start with Redwood. If the specific objective is maximizing recycled lithium carbonate production, I'd put Ascend Elements into the same RFP.

If you tell me what kind of battery/feedstock you have (EV packs, manufacturing scrap, consumer batteries, LFP, NMC, etc.) and your geography, I can narrow this down much more precisely.