The United States is experiencing rapid growth in lithium-ion battery recycling as electric vehicle adoption accelerates and demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel intensifies. If you are researching how many lithium battery recycling companies in usa are currently operational, this guide provides a practical overview of the major players, their locations, and the technologies driving the industry forward.
Why the U.S. Lithium Battery Recycling Sector Is Expanding
Several factors are fueling the expansion of domestic battery recycling capacity:
- Regulatory pressure: Federal and state regulations increasingly mandate responsible disposal and material recovery from end-of-life batteries.
- Supply chain security: The U.S. government prioritizes onshoring critical mineral processing to reduce dependence on overseas suppliers.
- EV market growth: With millions of electric vehicles expected to reach end-of-life in the coming decade, feedstock volumes for recyclers are projected to rise sharply.
- Economic incentives: Tax credits and grants under programs such as the Inflation Reduction Act encourage investment in domestic recycling infrastructure.
Major Lithium Battery Recycling Companies Operating in the USA
While the exact count changes as new facilities come online and others merge or restructure, the following companies represent the core of currently operational U.S. lithium battery recycling capacity:
1. Redwood Materials
Headquartered in Carson City, Nevada, with additional operations in Charleston, South Carolina, Redwood Materials is widely regarded as the leading lithium-ion battery recycler in North America. Founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel, the company processes approximately 20 GWh of batteries annually and recovers 95 to 98 percent of critical minerals, including nickel, cobalt, lithium, and copper. Redwood also manufactures battery-grade cathode and anode materials, creating a closed-loop supply chain for domestic EV production.
2. Cirba Solutions
Based in Westerville, Ohio, Cirba Solutions operates as a full-service battery recycling provider handling all chemistries and formats. The company manages collection, logistics, preprocessing, and materials recovery through multiple U.S. facilities, including expanded lithium-ion processing capabilities in Ohio. Its integrated approach serves automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics sectors.
3. Ecobat Technologies
With North American headquarters in Dallas, Texas, Ecobat is a global leader in battery collection and recycling. The company handles approximately 120 million batteries each year through over 65,000 collection points and 15-plus facilities worldwide. In the United States, Ecobat has been actively expanding its lithium-ion recycling footprint, including the opening of a new lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Arizona to complement its established lead-acid recycling network.
4. American Battery Technology Company (ABTC)
Located in Reno, Nevada, ABTC operates a commercial-scale lithium-ion battery recycling facility with a capacity of approximately 20,000 metric tons per year. The company uses proprietary de-manufacturing and chemical extraction technologies to process end-of-life and damaged batteries into intermediate materials and battery-grade products. ABTC is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the ticker ABAT and has reported substantial revenue growth as it scales operations.
5. Glencore Battery Recycling (GBR)
Following its acquisition of Li-Cycle assets in 2025, Glencore established Glencore Battery Recycling with operations across North America. The company now controls spoke facilities in Arizona, Alabama, and New York, plus a facility in Ontario, Canada. These sites preprocess spent batteries into black mass for further refining, contributing significantly to North American recycling capacity.
6. Princeton NuEnergy
Princeton NuEnergy, based in New Jersey, has achieved notable recovery yields of up to 97 percent using a low-temperature plasma-assisted separation process. While smaller in scale than Redwood or Ecobat, the company represents the innovative startup segment of the U.S. recycling landscape.
Emerging and Regional Players
Beyond the major recyclers, a growing number of regional facilities and startups are entering the market. Companies such as Lithion Technologies, Battery Recycling Made Easy, and Sitrasa have secured positions in specialized niche areas. Additionally, several waste management firms and metal processors are adding battery recycling lines to diversify their service offerings. The total number of operational facilities handling lithium-ion batteries in the U.S. is estimated to be in the range of 15 to 25 when including both dedicated recyclers and multiprocessing plants with battery recycling capabilities.
Core Equipment Used in Lithium Battery Recycling Plants
A typical lithium battery recycling equipment setup includes several integrated systems designed to safely discharge, shred, separate, and recover valuable materials. The standard workflow involves:
- Discharging and pre-crushing: Batteries are fully discharged and then pre-crushed to reduce size.
- Secondary granulation: Materials are further shredded to liberate internal components.
- Magnetic separation: Iron and steel are removed from the material stream.
- Air and electrostatic separation: Copper, aluminum, and plastic are sorted by density and conductivity.
- Black mass recovery: The remaining material, rich in nickel, cobalt, and graphite, is collected for hydrometallurgical refining.
For operators looking to establish or expand recycling capacity, selecting reliable li battery recycling equipment is critical. Equipment capacity typically ranges from 500 kg/hour to 2,500 kg/hour depending on plant design and feedstock type.
What to Consider When Choosing a Recycling Equipment Supplier
When evaluating equipment for a lithium battery recycling project, operators should assess the following:
- Capacity match: Verify that the rated throughput aligns with your projected feedstock volume.
- Separation efficiency: Ask for recovery rate guarantees for copper, aluminum, plastic, and black mass.
- Safety systems: Confirm that inert gas protection, fire suppression, and gas monitoring are included.
- Environmental compliance: Ensure air pollution control and wastewater treatment systems meet local regulatory limits.
- Spare parts and support: Blades, screens, and filters must be available without extended lead times.
San Lan Technologies Co., Ltd, established in 2007, manufactures complete lead acid battery recycling equipment, lithium battery recycling plants, circuit board recycling systems, and cable recycling machines. With customers in over 21 countries, San Lan provides equipment design, installation, and commissioning support for recycling plant projects worldwide. The company also supplies auxiliary systems including air pollution control, water treatment, and hydraulic briquetting equipment to ensure fully integrated plant operation.
Conclusion
The United States currently hosts a concentrated but expanding base of lithium battery recycling companies, led by Redwood Materials, Cirba Solutions, Ecobat, ABTC, and Glencore Battery Recycling. With continued investment driven by EV growth and policy support, operational capacity is expected to increase substantially over the next five years. For businesses planning to enter or expand in this sector, partnering with an experienced equipment manufacturer is essential to achieving efficient, compliant, and profitable operations.
