Quick guide for returners / Collection points / Safety / Recycling process / Battery family

What happens to returned batteries?

All batteries returned to stores and other collection points are sent to a specialized facility, Akkuser Oy in Nivala. Up to 90% of the materials from the batteries are recycled into secondary raw materials.

Battery Processing at Akkuser Oy

Receiving the Goods: The recyclable batteries arrive at the facility, where they are unloaded from the truck.
Weighing and Recording: All received materials are weighed, and the weights are recorded. Some materials arrive already weighed.
Interim Storage: The materials are transferred to interim storage to await further processing.
Removing Excess Material: On sorting lines, other recyclable materials like plastic and electronics, as well as other waste, are separated from the batteries and recycled appropriately. Electronic waste is sent for WEEE recycling to recover materials, and plastics are sorted into clear, colored, and hard plastics.
Battery Sorting: Batteries are sorted manually based on their chemical composition. The batteries move along a line, where workers pick out all other types except alkaline and button batteries. Then, the button batteries are separated from the alkaline batteries by sieving, and the remaining alkaline batteries are automatically weighed. Alkaline batteries make up about 84% of the received material. The button batteries are transported for high-temperature treatment of hazardous waste. The process is designed for hazardous waste, and the resulting flue gases are carefully treated.

Sorters separate other batteries from the alkaline batteries.

Can you tell a lithium battery and an alkaline battery apart?
Mechanical Processing Procedures:Single-stage Processing: Involves single-stage crushing and magnetic separation, used for alkaline batteries and nickel-metal hydride batteries.
Multi-stage Processing: Involves multi-stage crushing, screening, and magnetic separation, used for lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium batteries on their way to the crusher.
Final Products: The materials obtained from the recycling process are further recycled and reused.

What Products Are Made from Secondary Raw Materials?

Alkaline Batteries (Recycling Rate: 52%):

The iron recovered from the steel casings of alkaline batteries is delivered to steel mills, where it is melted and supplied in the desired form to industries that use steel as a raw material. Steel is utilized in cars, industry, and building structures. (One kilogram of steel can be used to produce, for example, about 70 forks weighing 14 g each.)

Zinc is suitable for use in the construction, automotive, and medical industries.

The zinc-manganese-containing black mass remaining after iron recovery from alkaline batteries can alternatively be processed into fertilizer suitable for organic farming through a Finnish circular economy innovation. In this case, the recycling rate is higher, up to 78%. Read more about their story on our #Kierrossa-blog.

Mikko Joensuu from Tracegrow showcases fertiliser processed from the black mass of alkaline batteries at the Kärsämäki plant. Manganese gives the fertiliser a perky pink colour.

Lithium Batteries (Li-ion, Li-Pol), Recycling Rate 69%:

From lithium batteries, 20-30% cobalt-containing fractions and 15-20% copper-containing fractions are recovered and supplied as secondary raw materials for industry.

Recycled cobalt can be used as a raw material for new batteries. The cobalt-rich black mass is delivered to Jervois Finland Oy in Kokkola, which hosts one of the world’s largest cobalt refineries. Recycling cobalt not only conserves energy but also reduces the need for virgin cobalt, whose extraction is associated with environmental and human rights issues. Recycling cobalt from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries is also critical for ensuring the availability of battery raw materials necessary for the green transition. Cobalt is listed by the EU as one of the critical raw materials, which have significant economic importance and are subject to supply risks.

Recycled copper can be widely utilized, for example, in the electronics industry, construction, and solar panels. Using recycled copper saves energy and natural resources and effectively reduces carbon dioxide emissions. It is estimated that up to half of the copper used in Europe today is already recycled.

The iron recovered from steel casings is delivered to steel mills, where it is melted and supplied in the desired form to entities using steel as a raw material. Steel is used in cars, industry, and building structures, among other applications. Using recycled steel saves energy and natural resources and significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions. According to a study commissioned by Recser, the climate impact of recycled iron is 85% lower than that of virgin-mined iron.

Nickel-Cadmium Batteries (NiCd) (Recycling Rate: 66%):

Ferronickel, which makes up 50% of the materials in batteries, is recycled for reuse in steel production. This process saves energy and reduces the need for virgin materials.

Nickel is used, for example, in the production of stainless steel. The use of recycled nickel conserves energy (estimated to be up to 75% less compared to the extraction of virgin material) and natural resources, and it effectively reduces carbon dioxide emissions.

Cadmium is a heavy metal harmful to the environment and health, and its use in batteries is now restricted by legislation. However, it is still found in old power tool batteries, and during the recycling process, cadmium is safely collected and removed.

Nickel-Metal Hydride Batteries (NiMh) (Recycling Rate: 52%):

Nickel and cobalt are recovered from these batteries and used in the production of stainless steel and smartphone batteries, among other applications. The iron contained in the batteries is also recovered.

Nickel is used, for example, in the production of stainless steel. The use of recycled nickel conserves energy (estimated to be up to 75% less compared to the extraction of virgin material) and natural resources, while also effectively reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

The nickel and cobalt-rich scrap from nickel-metal hydride batteries is delivered to a nickel and cobalt refiner.

Lead-Acid Batteries (Pb) (Recycling Rate: 71%):

Lead-acid batteries contain 65–90% lead. Recycled lead is used, among other things, in the production of new lead-acid batteries. Recycling batteries conserves natural resources, as recycled lead can replace virgin raw materials, thereby reducing the environmental impact of mining. Utilizing recycled lead also decreases greenhouse gas emissions associated with lead production. Lead can be recycled almost indefinitely, as the recycling process is designed to prevent any degradation in its quality. Lead is, in fact, one of the most extensively recycled metals. The responsible collection and recycling of lead-acid batteries are crucial because lead is a heavy metal, and it is essential to prevent it from entering the environment.

Recycling is Definitely a Climate Action According to a recent study commissioned by Recser Oy, the metals obtained from recycled batteries and accumulators can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 98% compared to virgin-mined metals. Recycling is a true climate action and can significantly help combat climate change.

Statistical information on recycling batteries and accumulators in 2023 can be found here.