About

As the use of battery-powered consumer goods, industrial and commercial equipment and electric vehicles grows worldwide, the volume of discarded batteries continues to increase. Yet only a fraction of these batteries and other high-value components are collected and recycled properly.

At the same time, the generation of other forms of universal waste (UW), such as solar panels, lamps and small electronics, continues to expand, creating more challenges but also opportunities for responsible materials management and value recovery.

In a society where stored power and green energy play an increasingly vital role, it’s imperative to recycle batteries and other UW to harness their raw material value while also protecting the environment and safeguarding valuable assets.

To better serve recyclers and generators of batteries, solar panels and other UW streams navigating today’s ever-changing landscape, we’ve expanded the scope of our event.

What was previously the Battery and Critical Metals Recycling Conference is now the Battery and Universal Waste Recycling Conference, broadening our scope to the full spectrum of the universal waste stream.

This exceptional event delves into the complexities, challenges and opportunities surrounding battery and UW recycling.

Critical metals: In demand

Projected demand for critical and critical materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, aluminum and others required in battery and advanced electronics production is, in some cases, expected to grow threefold by 2030. This demand-side curve creates a tremendous economic incentive for recovering, reprocessing and marketing these materials.

Danger to society

End-of-life batteries and other UW streams pose a tremendous threat to society when improperly disposed of. They can create toxic material flows that contaminate the environment, and those that end up in general waste or traditional recycling streams have been linked to tragic fires, creating a tremendous risk to life and property. Mitigating that risk is critical as the volume of these materials grows.

Recycling: A sustainable solution

Society’s demand for alternative power sources, stored power and electronics will undoubtedly continue to grow and diversify. This underpins the need for scalable and sustainable end-of-life management.

Proper recycling is that solution; it safeguards the environment and produces valuable critical materials essential for the modern world.

Universal waste: A growing priority

The use of materials and equipment, such as lamps, mercury-containing devices, solar panels and small electronics, is rapidly increasing across the globe. While these materials often contain hazardous components, they also contain valuable recoverable materials. Proper collection and recycling of UW can reduce environmental and safety risks, prevent fires and reintroduce critical raw materials to the supply chain.