COLLECTION AND RECYCLING OF SPENT NICKEL AND LITHIUM BATTERIES AND ACCUMULATORS IN POLAND

Abstract

The European Union has established strict requirements for the recycling of spent batteries and accumulators. In Poland, this waste is currently recycled pyrometallurgically solely for Cd, Zn, Pb and ferronickel recovery. However, waste cells (Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, Li-ion) represent a source of strategic metals (Ni, Co, Li). This paper shows an analysis of the market and applications of nickel and Li-ion batteries as well as current state of domestic collection and recycling of spent cells.