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Comment by tumetab1 | Hacker News Reader

What I would like know, and the article does not mention, is how environment friendly is the process. Can they have a profit without generating a lot of pollution?

From the little I known about computer hardware recycling some process generated a lot of hazardous chemicals so I'm concerned if the same happens with EV battery recycling.

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Mining virgin materials uses much more resources than recycling. The material is already concentrated in the to be recycled items. Strong environmental controls must be in place with the recycling companies, but the impacts are less. Plus you have to think of the regulatory environment where the items are being processed. A domestic to US recycler, with threat of RCRA (Superfund) has incentives to make sure they are following best practices.

> Mining virgin materials uses much more resources than recycling.

That depends heavily on the material in question. Aluminum, yes. Plastic, no.

The value here isn’t decided by the plastics. We are talking lithium, cobalt, copper as primary recovery. There are tons of interesting angles in plastic recycling. Engineered plastics do have value, other polymers not as much

The question should focus on: is it cleaner to re-refine during recycling than to do new mining of new materials? (And if it isn't yet—like due to economies of scale—is there a clear road with the concept.)

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