India recycles only about 1% of its lithium-ion batteries.I think retired EV batteries are India's next goldmine.Will EPR help us unlock their true value?
- Murali krishna
- Jul 14
- 2 min read
Most first-generation EVs still operate today.
The recycling wave arrives after 2028. 🔋
India currently recycles only about
1% of its lithium-ion batteries.
Many end-of-life batteries are still handled
through informal channels or remain
outside the formal recycling ecosystem.
If not managed properly, toxic metals can
Contaminate soil and groundwater.
That gives India valuable preparation time.
Used batteries contain critical minerals.
Lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese matter.
Hydrometallurgical recycling recovers these efficiently.
Recovery reduces fresh mining demand.
It also strengthens supply security.
Second-life applications create additional value.
Battery waste will grow rapidly.
Infrastructure must grow even faster. ♻️
For me, recycling is strategic engineering.
One immediate solution is stronger
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
EPR requires producers to collect, recycle, and
Safely manage end-of-life batteries.
I believe Strong EPR can accelerate India's circular economy.
📈 The market opportunity in India is massive.
India's lithium-ion battery recycling market
Could reach $3.5 billion by 2030.
Battery waste is projected to grow
6x by 2030 and 50x by 2035.
For India, this is a huge recycling opportunity
India has the talent.
India has a growing EV base.
Now India needs world-class
Recycling infrastructure.
Strong EPR policies can ensure batteries
Are collected, recycled, and kept within the
Circular economy instead of becoming waste.
The next EV race may not be batteries.
It may be recovering them. ♻️
The real question is who will recover it.
It improves sustainability and resource independence.
How can India use EPR to reduce its dependence on
Imported critical minerals while building a strong circular economy?
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Picture source: JMK Research Analytics
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