Government Plan to build a battery and E-Waste Recycling Plant in Uttarakhand
In order to recycle lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries and e-waste utilizing regional technology, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) Technology Development Board (TDB) and startup Remine India have partnered to construct a commercial factory in Uttarakhand.
The Ministry of Science & Technology said in a statement that the Technology Development Board has committed financial support of Rs 7.5 crore through the newly signed agreement, out of the project’s total cost of Rs 15 crore.
“India is third in the world in terms of e-waste generation and significant efforts are required to curb the issue. TDB supporting this initiative would help to engage informal recyclers to connect with formal recyclers thereby contributing towards a circular economy.”
TDB Secretary Rajesh Kumar Pathak, said.
The new recycling facility would be located in Eldeco in the Udham Singh Nagar area of Sitarganj, in the SIIDCUL Industrial Area.
“The efficient recycling of Li-ion batteries, based on the indigenous technology developed by the Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (CMET), Hyderabad, serves as a vital source of secondary raw materials for cell manufacturing within the country.It pointed out that the rising “imports of e-waste stemming from the disposal of spent Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs) are driven by their growing utilisation in portable electronics, electric vehicles, and global renewable energy storage systems,”
said the Science Ministry.
According to the ministry, recycling programs are essential even if an increasing amount of e-waste is ending up in landfills and being burned, raising major risks to public health and safety.
The interest in recycling the e-waste produced by these batteries has increased due to the possibility of creating value through the recovery of metals from wasted LIBs. With a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 21.6%, the lithium-ion battery recycling industry is expected to grow from $3.79 billion in 2021 to $14.89 billion by 2030. In spite of this, just 5% of Li-ion batteries are recycled and reused, with a staggering 95% of them ending up in landfills, it continued.
Concerning the prevalence of the unorganized sector in the e-waste scenario, the ministry stated that there may be more negative effects on the environment and the economy.
“Efficient and environmentally friendly recycling methods are imperative to address the escalating issue of battery waste, mitigate migrant supply side risks related to critical elements, and reduce carbon footprints,”
it said.
Content Credit: EV Mechanica