Li-Cycle Recovers 95% of Minerals From Intact EV Battery Packs

What *Really* happens to used Electric Car Batteries? - (you might be surprised) — JerryRigEverything

JerryRigEverything

Submerged hydrometallurgical recycling captures critical battery metals with 70% fewer emissions than primary mining, disproving claims that spent electric vehicle packs end up in landfills.

AI-assisted summary of What *Really* happens to used Electric Car Batteries? - (you might be surprised) — original source. Check the original for full context.

Source published:

Key ideas

  • Li-Cycle's hydrometallurgical shredding process submerges entire, intact EV battery packs under a liquid bath to neutralize electric charge and prevent thermal runaway fires without requiring manual disassembly. (0:00)
  • The mechanical separation line achieves a 95% material recovery rate, splitting batteries into plastics, structural metals, and active 'black mass' containing lithium, cobalt, and nickel. (4:15)
  • Recycling battery minerals produces approximately 70% fewer carbon emissions than primary extraction from virgin open pits or brine fields. (4:15)
  • Consumer electronics recycling is widely accessible, with 89% of the US population living within 10 miles of a Call2Recycle drop-off kiosk inside nationwide retail stores. (6:08)

Detailed notes

## Background Published on YouTube by JerryRigEverything on August 16, 2023, this video explores the reality of lithium-ion battery recycling. The video description highlights a behind-the-scenes tour of Li-Cycle's facility to show how electric car, cell phone, and power tool batteries are processed into raw materials, while directing viewers to Call2Recycle drop-off locations to divert their own electronics from landfills.

## TL;DR Host Zack Nelson tours Li-Cycle's Gilbert, Arizona recycling facility to debunk persistent myths that spent electric vehicle batteries inevitably end up in landfills. The facility safely processes fully assembled EV packs and everyday consumer electronics by shredding them submerged under a proprietary liquid chemical bath, eliminating fire hazards and neutralizing electrical charge. Mechanical separation and hydraulic filter pressing split the feedstock into three commodity streams: shredded plastics, mixed structural and precious metals, and a concentrated cathode/anode residue known as black mass. With a 95% material recovery rate that yields 70% fewer carbon emissions than primary mining, the recovered black mass is prepared for chemical refining into battery-grade lithium, cobalt, and nickel compounds.

## Atmosphere & style The presentation carries Zack Nelson's signature hands-on, practical curiosity, blending educational tech-demolition flair with industrial engineering marvels. Visually striking and tactile, the footage contrasts violent, high-torque shredding machinery against a serene, fire-suppressing chemical bath, creating an oddly satisfying look inside a modern recycling plant. The tone remains grounded, humorous, and reassuringly pragmatic, transforming an intimidating environmental dilemma into a solved technical reality through clear-eyed optimism and plain-spoken analysis.

## Bulletin - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=0s) Li-Cycle's hydrometallurgical shredding process submerges entire, intact EV battery packs under a liquid bath to neutralize electric charge and prevent thermal runaway fires without requiring manual disassembly. - [04:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=255s) The mechanical separation line achieves a 95% material recovery rate, splitting batteries into plastics, structural metals, and active 'black mass' containing lithium, cobalt, and nickel. - [04:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=255s) Recycling battery minerals produces approximately 70% fewer carbon emissions than primary extraction from virgin open pits or brine fields. - [06:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=368s) Consumer electronics recycling is widely accessible, with 89% of the US population living within 10 miles of a Call2Recycle drop-off kiosk inside nationwide retail stores.

## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=0s) Li-Cycle's facility in Gilbert, Arizona accepts batteries in virtually any condition, including swollen, crushed, recalled, or fire-damaged units. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=0s) EV battery packs weighing thousands of pounds are shredded completely intact, protecting workers by eliminating the hazards of manual high-voltage disassembly. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=0s) Submerging the industrial shredder under a proprietary liquid chemical bath neutralizes voltage, controls dust, and prevents thermal runaway fires. - [02:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=135s) Mechanical separation extracts lightweight plastics that float to the top and dense metals that sink to the bottom of the submerged sorting tank. - [02:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=135s) The recovered metal stream yields copper, aluminum, and steel, as well as trace precious metals such as gold, platinum, and palladium from circuit boards. - [02:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=135s) A hydraulic filter press squeezes the slurry to extract dense 'black mass' while recirculating the process liquid in a closed-loop system with zero wastewater discharge. - [04:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=255s) Black mass contains the highest concentrations of lithium, nickel, and cobalt, which can be recycled infinitely without losing elemental performance. - [04:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=255s) Li-Cycle achieves an overall recovery rate of 95% from incoming battery materials, effectively serving as an above-ground mineral mine. - [04:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=255s) Closed-loop battery recycling reduces carbon emissions by approximately 70% compared to traditional virgin ore mining. - [04:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=255s) The Gilbert 'Spoke' can process 18,000 tons of battery material annually, sending black mass to the Rochester 'Hub' to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate, lithium sulfate, and cobalt sulfate. - [06:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=368s) Through Call2Recycle partnerships, roughly 89% of Americans live within 10 miles of free battery collection bins located at major retailers like Home Depot and Lowe's. - [06:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=368s) Because EV battery materials retain high economic value, the widespread myth that spent battery packs are simply dumped in landfills is economically and practically unfounded.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=0s) Inside Li-Cycle: Submerged Shredding of EV Battery Packs

A persistent question surrounds the clean energy transition: what actually happens to lithium-ion batteries at the end of their lifespan? Whether they come from handheld cell phones, power tools, or multi-thousand-pound electric vehicles, skeptics frequently wonder if these batteries are simply dumped into landfills or genuinely recycled. To investigate the reality of large-scale battery recycling, Zack tours Li-Cycle's facility in Gilbert, Arizona, recognized as North America's leading recycler of lithium-ion batteries. While the facility can process small consumer electronics, it specializes in handling massive electric vehicle (EV) battery packs.

On the intake conveyor, a diverse mix of power sources is assembled, including phone batteries, laptop batteries, power tool packs, portable power banks, and even an old Nokia cell phone battery that Zack jokes is “a relic from times gone by.” Batteries can enter the facility in virtually any physical condition, whether intact, burned, damaged, or recalled. The centerpiece of the intake line is a full-sized EV battery pack weighing thousands of pounds. Rather than requiring human technicians to manually disassemble these dangerous, high-voltage battery enclosures, the entire intact pack is conveyed directly into a feed tower.

The feed tower and funnel are completely filled with a proprietary liquid solution featuring a massive industrial shredder submerged at the base. Submerging the entire tearing and shredding process under liquid eliminates the risk of thermal runaway fires and air emissions while immediately neutralizing the electrical charge. As Zack explains regarding worker protection, “Keeping the human operator safe is probably the most important part.”

- Li-Cycle accepts batteries in any state: undamaged, physically crushed, recalled, or fire-damaged. - EV battery packs are fed into the shredder fully assembled without manual disassembly, eliminating high-voltage electrocution and thermal hazards for workers. - The funnel and shredder operate completely submerged in a proprietary liquid chemical bath that prevents fires and controls dust.

[02:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=135s) Separation: Plastics, Shredded Metals, and the Filter Press

Once the submerged shredder grinds the battery modules, the electrical charge is neutralized, leaving the materials completely inert with zero residual voltage. The resulting slurry moves across a series of mechanical sorting stages. Lightweight plastic components that once housed the battery cells float to the surface of the liquid and are vibrated upward into collection chutes, where they drop into large industrial bulk bags for downstream reprocessing.

Dense metallic fragments sink to the bottom of the submerged tank. An inclined conveyor pulls these sinking metal flakes out of the liquid bath and passes them over a vibrating sorter. This stream yields a clean mixture of shredded aluminum, copper, and structural steel, as well as trace precious metals recovered from internal printed circuit boards, including gold, platinum, and palladium. Stomping out the idea of wasting these elements, Zack asserts, “With how valuable and useful these internal materials are, no one should be throwing them in a landfill.”

The remaining liquid is heavily saturated with the dissolved and suspended active cathode and anode materials. This metal-rich slurry is pumped directly into a large blue hydraulic filter press. Under high pressure, the liquid is squeezed out and recycled back into the shredding system, while the press plates retain a damp, dense substance known as "black mass." When the hydraulic plates cycle open and shake, sheets of black mass fall down collection funnels. Zack observes that the industry views this substance as foundational: “The black mass has been valuable enough to be called 'the new gold.'”

```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Li-Cycle Battery Recycling Process accDescr: Flow diagram showing how whole batteries are shredded under liquid and separated into plastics, metals, and black mass.

subgraph Intake ["Intake & Neutralization"] A["Whole Batteries & EV Packs"] --> B["Submerged Industrial Shredder"] B --> C["Inert Slurry Bath"] end

subgraph Separation ["Physical Separation"] C -->|"Floats to top"| D["Plastic Separator"] C -->|"Sinks to bottom"| E["Metal Dewatering Conveyor"] C -->|"Suspended slurry"| F["Hydraulic Filter Press"] end

subgraph Products ["Recovered Commodities"] D --> G["Plastics Bag"] E --> H["Aluminum, Copper & Steel Shred"] F --> I["Black Mass (Li, Ni, Co)"] F -->|"Recycled Filtrate"| B end ```

- Shredding takes place in a closed-loop hydrometallurgical circuit where process liquid is continuously recirculated without wastewater discharge. - The process produces no traditional air pollution because materials are shredded cold under liquid rather than smelted or burned. - Circuit board traces deliver recoverable quantities of precious metals, including gold, platinum, and palladium alongside base structural metals.

[04:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=255s) The Three Commodities and the Rochester Hub

At the end of the mechanical separation and filtration line, all incoming battery waste is reduced to three discrete commodity streams: clean shredded plastics, mixed copper and aluminum flakes, and drums of black mass. Black mass has the consistency of heavy black mud—or what Zack jokingly dubs “forbidden chocolate”—and holds the highest concentration of critical elements, specifically lithium, cobalt, and nickel. These base elemental metals do not degrade during their service life and can be recycled infinitely without loss of chemical performance.

Li-Cycle’s Gilbert "Spoke" facility achieves an overall material recovery rate of 95% from incoming batteries. Zack characterizes the operation as an eco-friendly alternative to raw mineral extraction: “Right here in Arizona is an above ground lithium mine that's processing batteries instead of earth.” Sourcing these battery metals through closed-loop recycling generates approximately 70% fewer carbon emissions compared to mining virgin ore from open pits or brine fields.

The Gilbert facility can process up to 18,000 tons of lithium-ion battery material annually. The black mass produced here is prepped for shipment to Li-Cycle’s centralized "Hub" refinery in Rochester, New York. Once fully operational, the hydrometallurgical Rochester Hub will chemically refine raw black mass back into high-purity, battery-grade chemical compounds, such as lithium carbonate, lithium sulfate, and cobalt sulfate, positioning it to become the single largest domestic source of recycled lithium carbonate in North America.

- Li-Cycle's recovery process captures 95% of the total battery materials across the three output bags. - Recycling battery minerals yields a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional primary earth mining. - The Gilbert, Arizona "Spoke" has an operating processing capacity of 18,000 tons of battery feedstock per year. - The Rochester, New York "Hub" refines black mass into precursor chemicals: battery-grade lithium carbonate, lithium sulfate, and cobalt sulfate.

[06:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=368s) Consumer Recycling via Call2Recycle and Debunking Landfill Myths

Addressing consumer confusion over the disposal of everyday electronics, Zack tackles the common dilemma of what viewers should do with junk drawers full of swollen, dead phone batteries and obsolete gadgets. Everyday consumers do not need direct industrial access to Li-Cycle to ensure their devices are diverted from municipal waste streams. Through programs like Call2Recycle, domestic infrastructure makes recycling accessible to the vast majority of households.

Approximately 89% of the United States population lives within 10 miles of an official Call2Recycle drop-off kiosk. These collection bins are routinely located inside prominent national retail chains such as The Home Depot, Lowe's, Staples, and OfficeMax. Collected electronics and loose batteries deposited into these drop boxes are consolidated and shipped to dedicated industrial recycling facilities like Li-Cycle to be converted directly into raw materials for next-generation consumer tech and electric vehicles.

Zack concludes by encouraging viewers to debunk the prevailing internet myth that electric vehicle batteries inevitably end up abandoned in scrap yards or buried in landfills. Pointing to the practical economics and advanced domestic facilities already operating, he notes that these critical battery materials are far too valuable to ever be discarded as trash.

- Approximately 89% of the US population resides within a 10-mile radius of a Call2Recycle collection point. - Standard drop-off locations include ubiquitous nationwide hardware and office retail stores: Home Depot, Lowe's, Staples, and OfficeMax. - Diverted consumer electronics feed the same closed-loop industrial recycling streams that supply raw battery-grade minerals for future EV production.

## Notable quotes > [04:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=255s) Right here in Arizona is an above ground lithium mine that's processing batteries instead of earth. — Zack

## Mentioned Call2Recycle, JerryRigEverything, Li-Cycle, Lowe's, Nokia, OfficeMax, Staples, The Home Depot, Zack

## Video description How are Lithium Batteries Recycled? Today we find out. Whether its Electric Car batteries, cell phone batteries, or tool batteries the process is all the same. HUGE thanks to Li-Cycle for giving us a tour: https://www.li-cycle.com/ if you're looking to recycle your old cell phone or battery, you can find a drop off location here: https://www.call2recycle.org/locator/ and Call2Recycle will handle the rest. Lets get those old electronics and batteries turned into NEW technology!

Get my JerryRig Razor knife HERE: https://www.jerryrigknife.com/

Follow me for updates! Instagram: http://instagram.com/zacksjerryrig Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1U4bQqv Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZacksJerryRig

LARGE tool kit: http://amzn.to/2DURcr7 Travel Tool Kit: https://amzn.to/30LKXOY Mega Tool Kit: https://amzn.to/2OwequL Plastic Pry tools: http://amzn.to/1Tu57pI Metal phone opening tool: http://amzn.to/1WdOFv0 The camera I used to film this video: http://amzn.to/2p7GtkX (GH6 https://amzn.to/3LyfW8d) The Lens I used for this video: http://amzn.to/1QOXDw2 Wide angle lens: http://amzn.to/2qiYM4u And this Metabones adapter: http://amzn.to/2iZ67Ty This is the drone I use: https://amzn.to/3JEuTXs

TO SEND ME STUFF: See my P.O. Box on my 'About page': https://www.youtube.com/@JerryRigEverything/about

JerryRigEverything assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. JerryRigEverything recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, expensive electronics, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of JerryRigEverything, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not JerryRigEverything. Only attempt your own repairs if you can accept personal responsibility for the results, whether they are good or bad.

[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ)

中文简报

Li-Cycle从完整电动汽车电池包中回收95%矿物 水下湿法冶金回收捕集关键电池金属，碳排放比原生开采减少70%，有力反驳了废弃电动汽车电池最终只能填埋的说法。 主持人Zack Nelson参观了Li-Cycle位于亚利桑那州吉尔伯特的回收设施，以破除废旧电动汽车电池最终难逃填埋命运的流言。该设施通过将完整组装的电动汽车电池包及日常消费电子产品完全浸没在专有化学液体中进行粉碎，消除了火灾隐患并中和了电荷，实现了安全处理。机械分选与水压压滤工艺将原料分离为三种商品料流：粉碎塑料、混合结构金属与贵金属，以及被称为“黑粉”的高浓度正负极残余物。该技术拥有95%的材料回收率，碳排放量比原生开采少70%，回收得到的黑粉正准备进行化学精炼，转化为电池级锂、钴和镍化合物。 Li-Cycle的湿法冶金粉碎工艺将完整无缺的电动汽车电池包浸没在液体槽中，无需人工拆卸即可中和电荷并防止热失控起火。 (0:00) 机械分选线实现了95%的材料回收率，将电池分解为塑料、结构金属以及含有锂、钴、镍的高活性“黑粉”。 (4:15) 与从原生露天矿或盐湖提锂相比，回收电池矿物所产生的碳排放量减少了约70%。 (4:15) 消费电子产品回收途径广泛普及，89%的美国人口居住在距离全美零售店内Call2Recycle投放箱10英里以内的区域。 (6:08)

Reading summary

Touring Li-Cycle's processing facility in Gilbert, Arizona, Zack of JerryRigEverything illustrates how modern industrial recycling recovers 95% of materials from spent lithium-ion batteries, countering assumptions that electric vehicle battery packs inevitably end up in landfills. Submerged Shredding and Thermal Runaway Prevention (0:00) Rather than relying on human workers to manually disassemble high-voltage electric vehicle packs—a process carrying severe risks of electrocution and thermal runaway—the Gilbert facility conveys entire multi-thousand-pound packs directly into a feed tower. Batteries enter in nearly any condition, including fire-damaged, crushed, or recalled states alongside standard consumer electronics. The shredder operates fully submerged in a proprietary chemical bath. Submerging the tearing action neutralizes the electrical charge instantly, reduces materials to a cold, inert slurry, and eliminates airborne dust, fire hazards, and the air emissions associated with traditional thermal smelting. Mechanical Separation and Black Mass Production (2:15) Once shredding is complete, the neutral slurry passes through a closed-loop mechanical sorting system without wastewater discharge. Lightweight plastic cell casings float to the surface and are diverted into industrial collection bags. Denser fragments—including structural steel, copper, aluminum, and trace precious metals such as gold, platinum, and palladium from internal circuit boards—sink to the bottom and are extracted via an inclined conveyor. The suspended active materials from the battery cathode and anode are routed to a high-pressure hydraulic filter press. The press extracts process liquid to recirculate back into the shredding tank, leaving behind a damp, concentrated cake termed 'black mass.' Containing the critical, non-degrading elements lithium, nickel, and cobalt, this recovered compound serves as the primary output of the mechanical processing stage. Processing Capacity and Closed-Loop Refining (4:15) Li-Cycle's Gilbert 'Spoke' facility can process up to 18,000 tons of battery material each year, achieving a 95% total material recovery rate. Sourcing battery-grade metals through this recycling pipeline yields roughly 70% fewer carbon emissions compared to traditional primary extraction from open-pit mining or brine fields. To complete the manufacturing cycle, the concentrated black mass is shipped to Li-Cycle's 'Hub' refinery in Rochester, New York. Once fully operational, this hydrometallurgical refinery will chemically separate the black mass into battery-grade chemical compounds, including lithium carbonate, lithium sulfate, and cobalt sulfate, intended to supply domestic battery production as North America's largest source of recycled lithium carbonate. Consumer Collection Channels and Economics (6:08) Diverting batteries away from landfills relies on consumer collection networks that link directly to industrial recyclers. Through programs like Call2Recycle, roughly 89% of the United States population resides within 10 miles of a drop-off kiosk located in national retail stores like The Home Depot, Lowe's, Staples, and OfficeMax. Zack emphasizes that the underlying economics of battery materials fundamentally discourage disposal. Because critical minerals retain their performance across infinite recycling cycles and hold substantial market value, domestic processors have built commercial systems that make recycling far more viable than discarding spent units as municipal waste. The evidence presented indicates that large-scale lithium-ion battery recycling is an operational domestic industry driven by the high residual value of critical metals and safety-focused hydrometallurgy, though the long-term domestic supply of refined chemicals still depends on the full operational rollout of specialized refining hubs.

精炼阅读摘要

针对废旧电动汽车电池最终会被填埋的公众疑虑，JerryRigEverything 通过实地探访北美锂离子电池回收企业 Li-Cycle 证实，通过现代工业化湿法回收技术，退役电池包无需人工高危拆解即可在液体环境中安全破碎，并实现 95% 的材料综合回收率，驳斥了废弃动力电池必然流入垃圾填埋场的观点。 浸没式低温破碎消除安全隐患 (0:00) 动力电池回收面临着高压电击与热失控起火的双重安全挑战。Li-Cycle 位于亚利桑那州吉尔伯特（Gilbert）的工厂采用整包机械进料设计，重达数千磅的完整电动汽车电池包无需人工技术人员进行高风险的手工拆解，可直接送入进料塔。进料漏斗与底部的大型工业粉碎机完全浸没在专用液体化学溶液中，电池在带电状态下被直接冷剪切撕碎。 这种全液体浸没作业能瞬间中和电池的残留电荷，使其转变为零电压的惰性混合物，同时彻底隔绝空气接触，消除了热失控引发火灾及粉尘废气排放的风险。该工艺兼容完好、受损、起火烧损以及被召回的各类电池形态，且破碎环节属于闭环液态回路，处理液经压滤后循环使用，不产生工业废水直排。 物理多级分选与压滤提取黑质 (2:15) 电池包在浸没槽中被破碎成浆料后，系统利用物理密度差异完成分选。电池外壳等轻质塑料碎片漂浮在液面上，经振动筛分后直接落入下游工业吨袋中打包；致密的金属碎片沉入槽底，由倾斜输送机捞出并送入振动分选设备，分离出洁净的铝、铜、结构钢碎块，以及源自电路板的微量金、铂、钯等贵金属。 富含电池正负极活性材料的悬浮液则被泵入大型液压压滤机。在高压压榨下，液体被挤出并送回粉碎系统循环使用，压滤机滤板之间则截留出致密潮湿的黑色泥状饼料，即行业内所称的“黑质”（black mass）。黑质浓缩了电池中最核心的金属元素，被主持人 Zack 称为回收领域的“新黄金”，这类高价值产物的提取杜绝了稀缺战略资源的填埋浪费。 95%回收率与罗切斯特精炼闭环 (4:15) 经过机械分选与高压过滤，所有进入工厂的电池废料被归拢为三大初级商品：洁净塑料碎料、混合铜铝金属碎屑以及富含锂、钴、镍的黑质。这些基础金属元素在电池服役寿命中不会发生化学退化，理论上具备无限次再制造的能力。吉尔伯特工厂的物料回收率达到 95%，额定年处理能力为 18,000 吨，通过回收闭环获取电池金属相较于传统原生矿石开采，可减少约 70% 的温室气体排放。 吉尔伯特作为该企业网络中的“轮辐”（Spoke）预处理节点，生产的黑质会被运往位于纽约州罗切斯特（Rochester）的中央“枢纽”（Hub）精炼厂。该枢纽厂依托湿法冶金化学工艺，将粗制黑质精炼为高纯度电池级碳酸锂、硫酸锂及硫酸钴等化合物，投产后预计将成为北美本土规模最大的再生电池级碳酸锂供给源。 消费端渠道对接与破除填埋误区 (6:08) 对于个人用户手头闲置膨胀的旧手机电池等小型电子废弃物，普通公众并不需要直接联系工业处理厂，通过非营利性回收项目 Call2Recycle 即可接入正规回收链条。目前约 89% 的美国人口居住在距离官方指定投放点 10 英里以内，Home Depot、Lowe's、Staples 和 OfficeMax 等主流零售连锁门店内均设有收集设施。 消费端回收箱中收集的电子废物会被集中转运至 Li-Cycle 等专业工业处置端，与退役电动汽车电池进入同一条闭环回收线，重新转化为制造新电池与科技产品的原材料。Zack 强调，动力电池报废后会被遗弃在废品场或掩埋在垃圾堆的说法属于网络谣言，电池所含关键矿物极高的工业与经济价值决定了其必然会被推向循环利用市场。 实地证据表明，规模化湿法回收与闭环分选技术已在技术层面上解决了退役电池的安全处置与资源再利用问题。不过，此类回收模式要完全取代原生矿石开采，仍取决于下游高纯度化学精炼枢纽的实际投产进度与长效处理成本。

Detailed notes — zh

## Background 该视频由知名科技评测频道 JerryRigEverything（Zack Nelson）于 2023 年 8 月 16 日发布在 YouTube 平台上。视频简介指出，无论电动汽车电池、手机电池还是电动工具电池，其回收流程本质相同；Zack 通过实地走访北美电池回收龙头企业 Li-Cycle，向观众揭秘废旧锂电池如何被重新加工成全新科技产品，并附带了公众回收旧电池的实用途径与网点链接。 ## TL;DR Zack 探访了位于亚利桑那州吉尔伯特的 Li-Cycle 回收工厂，实地展示了废旧消费类电池与数千磅重的完整电动汽车电池包的处理全过程。该工厂采用特制的专有液体进行全浸没水下撕碎，无需提前人工放电或拆解，彻底杜绝了起火风险并确保工人安全。经过振动筛与重力分离，电池被拆分为轻质塑料与铜铝重金属碎屑，而富含锂、钴、镍的液体则通过巨型板框压滤机提取出极具价值的“黑粉”。整套湿法回收系统实现了高达 95% 的材料回收率、零工艺液体外排和无焚烧废气，产出的黑粉将送往纽约深加工基地转化为电池级化学品，形成本土闭环循环经济。 ## Atmosphere & style 整部视频洋溢着 JerryRigEverything 标志性的硬核工程好奇心与平实幽默感，巨大的工业设备轰鸣与厂房画面极具视觉冲击力。Zack 举重若轻地用“禁忌的巧克力”打趣黑粉滤饼，并与老旧诺基亚电池诙谐告别，让原本复杂的湿法冶金与机械分选流程变得通俗生动。观众在跟随镜头目睹庞大电池包瞬间化为安全粉末的过程中，不仅能感受到现代重工业的精密与震撼，还会油然而生一种对绿色循环经济与资源重生的笃定与乐观。 ## Bulletin - [05:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=321s) 相比传统地下原生矿开采，退役锂电池回收作为“地上锂矿”可降低多达 70% 的碳排放，且核心金属元素具备无限次循环再造的物理特性。 - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=0s) Li-Cycle 采用专利液体浸没撕碎技术，支持整套数千磅重的 EV 电池包直接入料，省去高危人工拆解的同时直接中和电荷并杜绝起火爆炸风险。 - [03:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=199s) 全流程达成 95% 的综合材料回收率，通过高压板框压滤机提取富含锂、钴、镍的“黑粉”，且工艺液体全闭环循环、无焚烧废气排放。 - [05:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=321s) 亚利桑那 Spoke 辐射厂具备每年 18,000 吨处理产能，提取的黑粉运往纽约 Rochester Hub 湿法精炼，后者投产后有望成为北美最大的回收电池级碳酸锂供应源。 ## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=0s) 广泛的物料包容性：该回收流水线不仅能处理手机与工具电池，更能消纳完整的巨型电动汽车电池包，甚至涵盖烧毁、机械损坏和厂家召回的废品。 - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=0s) 水下安全破碎设计：电池通过大倾角传送带送入注满专有液体的密封塔，浸入底部的巨型撕碎机进行水下物理破碎，阻断氧气并瞬间释放残存电荷。 - [01:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=110s) 省去人工拆解工序：无需人工拆开复杂的电池外壳与高压电芯模组，从源头上保障了产线操作人员的安全，消除触电与热失控威胁。 - [01:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=110s) 物理比重粗分离：破碎后的浆液在流动中分层，密度较低的塑料碎片浮在液体表层，经振动筛分离后收集送往塑料回收线。 - [01:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=110s) 沉底金属碎屑富集：外壳与电芯集流体等重金属沉入槽底并被滤干，高效分类收集铝、钢、铜碎屑，以及电路板残存的金、铂、钯等贵金属。 - [03:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=199s) 板框压滤提取黑粉：富含金属离子的细微浆液被泵入高压液压压滤机，专用液体被机械挤出后，滤布上截留下高纯度致密泥状物质“黑粉”。 - [03:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=199s) 黑粉的核心经济价值：黑粉富含锂、钴、镍等极片活性元素，被称为电池回收产业的“新黄金”，是全套工艺追求的核心产物与新电池制造原料。 - [03:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=199s) 全闭环与零焚烧环保工艺：处理过程中的专有母液在系统内实现 100% 封闭循环再利用，零工艺废水外排，且无传统冶炼的焚烧环节，避免空气污染。 - [03:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=199s) 三大工业产物与高回收率：进入系统的电池材料有 95% 能被分流封装进塑料袋、铜铝金属袋以及黑粉袋三大最终品类中。 - [05:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=321s) “地上锂矿”的环保效益：相较于直接开采地下矿脉，利用退役电池回收锂资源可减少高达 70% 的碳排放，有效降低动力电池全生命周期环境足迹。 - [05:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=321s) Spoke-Hub 跨区域协同体系：亚利桑那 Spoke 辐射厂专注机械破碎与黑粉粗提（年产能 1.8 万吨），纽约 Rochester Hub 则专注黑粉的湿法化学精炼。 - [05:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=321s) 电池级化学品本土自给：纽约枢纽投产后将黑粉深加工为高纯度碳酸锂、硫酸锂和硫酸钴，将成为北美最大的本土回收级碳酸锂来源。 - [05:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=321s) 普及性极高的前端回收网络：全美 89% 的人口居住在 Call2Recycle 投放点方圆 10 英里内，依托家得宝、劳氏等大型连锁门店打通消费级电池闭环通道。 ## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=0s) 废弃锂电池的去向之谜与 Li-Cycle 亚利桑那工厂探秘 手机、电动工具以及最关键的电动汽车在报废之后，里面的锂电池究竟流向了何处？是最终被草率地堆进垃圾填埋场，还是真正得到了循环利用？为了解答这些疑问，Zack（JerryRigEverything）来到了位于亚利桑那州吉尔伯特（Gilbert, Arizona）的北美领先锂离子电池回收企业——Li-Cycle。该工厂虽然能够处理小型消费电子电池，但其真正的专长在于吃下体积极其庞大的电动汽车（EV）电池包。输送带上呈现的电池形态各异，除外观完好的电池外，Li-Cycle 还能接纳被烧毁、机械损坏甚至厂家召回的各类电池；可以说，任何状态下的电池都能通过该工艺进行回收。 现场的电池样本涵盖了手机电池、笔记本电脑电池、工具电池及充电宝，而传送带上最引人注目的“巨无霸”当属重达数千磅的完整电动汽车电池包。要把这种沉重的动力电池送上输送机本身就是一项艰巨的工程。传送带将电池组向上输送至高处的漏斗形进料塔，整座塔体内部注满了由 Li-Cycle 研发的专有液体，塔底则装有一台浸没在液体中的巨型工业撕碎机。在分拣线上，Zack 甚至翻出了一块充满时代印记的老式诺基亚手机电池，他开玩笑地道别说：“See ya later, buddy. Hope you end up in an electric vehicle.” ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: 电池回收前端破碎流程图 accDescr: 展示废旧各类电池送入水下撕碎机并使带电物料变为完全惰性状态的过程 subgraph INFEED ["原料入料环节"] A["各类废旧电池<br/>(手机/笔记本/工具/完整EV电池包)"] B["大倾角上料传送带"] A --> B end subgraph SHREDDING ["水下安全破碎"] C["注入专有液体的密封漏斗塔"] D["液下巨型工业撕碎机<br/>(完全浸没运行)"] B --> C C --> D E["完全惰性物料流<br/>(电荷消除 / 无火灾风险)"] D --> E end ``` - **原料适应性广**：不论完好、火烧、物理变形或厂商召回，电池均可直接进入流水线。 - **无需人工拆解**：整包直接入料，消除高压电击与热失控伤人隐患。 - **免放电破碎**：通过浸没在专有液体中破碎，电池电荷直接转化为惰性状态，加工后物料毫无电流残留。 --- ### [01:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=110s) 免拆解水下撕碎与固液粗分离机制 电池模组内部结构繁杂，包含坚固的金属外壳、固定电芯的塑料支架，以及深藏于电芯内部的锂、钴、镍等关键金属。Li-Cycle 工艺的核心优势之一，就是允许整套电池包直接丢入撕碎机，从而彻底省去了人工拆装电池模组的高危步骤。正如 Zack 强调的那样：“Keeping the human operator safe is probably the most important part.” 电池落入专有液体中破碎后，瞬间从带电状态转变为完全惰性的物理碎料，杜绝了空气中破碎可能带来的短路着火风险。破碎后的混合浆液在机器内部流动，伴随着巨大的设备轰鸣声，密度较轻的塑料碎片漂浮在液体表层，经由振动筛分离后顺着出料滑道滑入下方的回收袋中，送往进一步的塑料回收流程。而重金属部件（外壳金属与电芯集流体）则沉入箱体底部，被传送带从液体深处捞出并滤干。 经过振动分离系统处理后，金属碎屑被分类富集：其中包括铝、钢和铜碎屑，电路板上更夹杂着金、铂、钯等贵重金属。这些沉甸甸的金属碎屑全数打包封存以备提炼。Zack 指出，鉴于电池内部所蕴藏的材料价值极高，将其扔进垃圾掩埋场是极其荒谬的资源浪费行为。 --- ### [03:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=199s) 压滤机提取“新黄金”黑粉与闭环环保流程 金属与塑料残渣分离后，最核心的钴和锂等关键元素仍然高度分散在撕碎机的专用液体中。为了把这些宝贵元素提纯出来，工厂采用了一台巨大的蓝色板框压滤机（filter press）。富含金属离子的混合浆液被高压泵入压滤系统，液压装置施加极大的机械压力，将专有液体彻底挤出，而在各个滤板滤布上留下一层致密的黑色泥状物质——黑粉（black mass）。随着压滤板的机械抖动，大块大块的黑粉从出料口不断崩落。 这种被称为“新黄金（the new gold）”的黑粉是全套回收体系中经济价值最高的产物，也是 Li-Cycle 孜孜以求的核心原料。关于其重要性，Zack 明确指出：“It really is the most valuable part of this entire process and what Li-Cycle is after. It's a vital ingredient in making new batteries.” 此外，工厂的环保设计十分出色：虽然全流程使用了大量水基液体，但整个系统采用严密的闭环回路（closed-loop system），工艺用水永远不外排，在化学反应中也零消耗；并且全程无焚烧操作，杜绝了传统冶炼产生的废气排放。 ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: 产物分流与压滤提纯示意图 accDescr: 展示浸没破碎后的混合物料如何分离出塑料、重金属以及通过板框压滤机提取黑粉 subgraph SEPARATION ["固液分离与分级"] M["混合物料浆液"] P["表层漂浮物: 塑料碎片"] H["底层沉淀物: 铜/铝/钢/贵金属碎屑"] L["含细颗粒与金属成分的专用母液"] M --> P M --> H M --> L end subgraph EXTRACTION ["压滤与产物提纯"] FP["高压蓝色板框压滤机<br/>(Hydraulic Filter Press)"] BM["极片活性物质: 黑粉<br/>(含锂、镍、钴)"] CL["专有液体全闭环循环<br/>(零液体外排 / 零焚烧尾气)"] L --> FP FP --> BM FP --> CL CL --> M end ``` - **三大终端产品**： 1. **塑料袋**：源自漂浮在液体顶层的电池内部支架与绝缘构件； 2. **铜铝金属袋**：来自沉入液底的集流体箔片与金属外壳撕碎物； 3. **黑粉袋**：从压滤机滤饼中收集，质地类似黑泥，富含锂、钴、镍。 - **超高回收率**：进入该系统的电池材料有 95% 能被精确分流并封装进这三类产物袋中。 - **无限循环能力**：其中的金属元素具备无限次循环再造的物理特性，在质感上被 Zack 打趣形容为一堆“禁忌的巧克力（forbidden chocolate）”。 --- ### [05:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=321s) 地面锂矿概念、纽约枢纽与公众回收途径 Li-Cycle 在亚利桑那的这处工厂实质上是一座“地上锂矿”（above ground lithium mine）——它开采的是退役电池而非自然地表。与从地下首次开采原生矿相比，采用这种回收再利用工艺可以减少多达 70% 的碳排放。这座被称为 Li-Cycle “Spoke（辐射厂）”的亚利桑那工厂，每年拥有高达 18,000 吨的锂电池物料处理产能。 产出的黑粉将被整车运往 Li-Cycle 正在纽约州罗切斯特兴建的“Hub（枢纽中心）”深加工基地。罗切斯特工厂将通过精细湿法冶金，把粗制黑粉直接转化回电池级高纯化学品，例如碳酸锂（lithium carbonate）、硫酸锂（lithium sulfate）与硫酸钴（cobalt sulfate）。建成后，该基地有望成为全北美最大的回收电池级碳酸锂供应源。 ```mermaid flowchart LR accTitle: 循环经济供应链体系 accDescr: 展示从消费者回收点到亚利桑那粗加工厂，再到纽约精细化工厂的完整产业链 subgraph C2R ["消费端收集网络"] CR["Call2Recycle 站点<br/>(家得宝 / 劳氏 / 史泰博 / Office Max)"] end subgraph SPOKE ["前驱体破碎处理: 亚利桑那 Spoke"] SPOKE_P["机械物理破碎 & 压滤提纯<br/>(年处理能力: 18,000 吨)"] end subgraph HUB ["深加工提纯: 纽约 Rochester Hub"] HUB_P["湿法冶金精炼工厂<br/>(产出碳酸锂 / 硫酸锂 / 硫酸钴)"] end CR --> SPOKE_P SPOKE_P -->|"运输黑粉原料"| HUB_P HUB_P -->|"供应电池厂商"| NEW["制造全新电池与电动汽车"] ``` 针对普通大众家中闲置在抽屉里的旧手机与各种老旧电池，Zack 介绍了极具实操性的回收方案：全美有高达 89% 的人口居住在距离 Call2Recycle 回收网点 10 英里以内的区域。这些网点通常入驻在 Home Depot（家得宝）、Lowe's（劳氏）、Staples（史泰博）或 Office Max 等大型连锁超市与办公用品店中。消费者投入收集箱的废旧电子器件都会被统一转运至类似 Li-Cycle 的工厂，重新熔炼为你未来的下一部手机或下一辆电动汽车。全套流程实现了在本土收集、本土拆解提炼，并供应本土电池制造业的完整闭环。 | 核心指标 / 项目 | 详细数据与事实说明 | |:--- |:--- | | **开采碳排放削减** | 相比直接从地下矿山开采原矿，该电池回收工艺减少约 **70%** 的温室气体排放 | | **综合材料回收率** | 系统内高达 **95%** 的电池构成材料被分类收集到三大类产品袋中 | | **亚利桑那 Spoke 产能** | 每年可连续处理高达 **18,000 吨** 的废旧锂离子电池及物料 | | **公众回收便捷度** | 全美 **89%** 的居民生活在 Call2Recycle 投放点方圆 **10 英里** 范围内 | | **纽约 Hub 战略定位** | 预计投产后将成为整个北美地区最大的回收级**碳酸锂**生产来源 | ## Notable quotes > [01:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ&t=110s) Keeping the human operator safe is probably the most important part. — Zack ## Mentioned Li-Cycle, Zack (JerryRigEverything), Call2Recycle, Home Depot, Lowe's, Staples, Office Max, Nokia ## Video description How are Lithium Batteries Recycled? Today we find out. Whether its Electric Car batteries, cell phone batteries, or tool batteries the process is all the same. HUGE thanks to Li-Cycle for giving us a tour: https://www.li-cycle.com/ if you're looking to recycle your old cell phone or battery, you can find a drop off location here: https://www.call2recycle.org/locator/ and Call2Recycle will handle the rest. Lets get those old electronics and batteries turned into NEW technology! Get my JerryRig Razor knife HERE: https://www.jerryrigknife.com/ Follow me for updates! Instagram: http://instagram.com/zacksjerryrig Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1U4bQqv Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZacksJerryRig LARGE tool kit: http://amzn.to/2DURcr7 Travel Tool Kit: https://amzn.to/30LKXOY Mega Tool Kit: https://amzn.to/2OwequL Plastic Pry tools: http://amzn.to/1Tu57pI Metal phone opening tool: http://amzn.to/1WdOFv0 The camera I used to film this video: http://amzn.to/2p7GtkX (GH6 https://amzn.to/3LyfW8d) The Lens I used for this video: http://amzn.to/1QOXDw2 Wide angle lens: http://amzn.to/2qiYM4u And this Metabones adapter: http://amzn.to/2iZ67Ty This is the drone I use: https://amzn.to/3JEuTXs TO SEND ME STUFF: See my P.O. Box on my 'About page': https://www.youtube.com/@JerryRigEverything/about JerryRigEverything assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. JerryRigEverything recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, expensive electronics, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of JerryRigEverything, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not JerryRigEverything. Only attempt your own repairs if you can accept personal responsibility for the results, whether they are good or bad. [Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xrarUWVRQ)

Source quotes

[1:50] Zack: Keeping the human operator safe is probably the most important part.

Source quotes

[4:15] Zack: Right here in Arizona is an above ground lithium mine that's processing batteries instead of earth.

Original transcript

[0:00] So I have some questions...what happens to  the lithium batteries inside of your cell [0:04] phone at the end of its life? What happens to  the lithium batteries inside of your tools? And [0:10] most importantly, what happens to the lithium  batteries inside of electric vehicles? Are they [0:16] thrown in landfills? Are they recycled? A lot  of questions to be answered. Let's get started. [0:26] [Intro] [0:27] Today I'm in Gilbert Arizona with a company  called Li-Cycle, North America's leading [0:33] lithium ion battery recycler. They can do  the small batteries, but they specialize [0:39] in the super large EV battery packs, and  the process is fascinating. A lot of the [0:45] batteries you see here on the conveyor belt are  intact, but Li-Cycle does take burned, damaged, [0:51] and recalled batteries. Basically batteries in  any state can be recycled using this process. [0:56] Among our selection of batteries today it  looks like we have cell phone batteries, [1:00] laptop batteries, tool batteries, even some  power banks. The biggest battery of all, [1:06] of course, though is the electric car battery  sitting right here on the conveyor. Electric [1:11] car batteries weigh thousands of pounds. Getting  them up and onto the conveyor is a job all by [1:16] itself. So to prep you for what's happening  here, we have the EV battery pack going up [1:21] the conveyor belt to this funnel right here.  The entire funnel, you know, the whole tower, [1:27] is full of a proprietary liquid with a massive  submerged industrial shredder at the bottom. [1:40] I even found an old Nokia battery...a  relic from times gone by. See ya later, [1:47] buddy. Hope you end up in an electric vehicle. [1:50] There are a lot of materials inside  the modules. We have the metal casing, [1:55] we have the plastic interiors that hold all the  modules steady, and of course, we have the lithium [2:00] cobalt and nickel inside of the batteries  themselves. There's a lot to collect. One [2:06] of the benefits of having a whole battery pack  go into the shredder is that no one is required [2:10] to disassemble the pack. Keeping the human  operator safe is probably the most important part. [2:15] After the batteries are ground up they go from  a charge state into a completely inert state. [2:20] There is no electricity in the materials after  the blender. It's getting kind of loud but you [2:27] can see it flowing through here down to a  stream where the plastic is vibrated up to [2:33] this shoot here where they are dropped down  into a recycling bag for further processing. [2:38] But you're probably not here to see how  the plastic is separate from the battery, [2:42] we're here to see what happens to the lithium,  the cobalt, and the other precious metals. [2:47] After the electric vehicle battery is dropped  into the shredder, it gets ground up into small [2:52] metal flakes which sink to the bottom of  the tank and get conveyered up and out of [2:57] the liquid like you're seeing here. Coming  out of the vibrator we have aluminum, steel, [3:01] and copper, and sometimes even some sweet  metals that come off the circuit boards, [3:05] like gold, platinum, and palladium, all  collected in bags to be recycled later. [3:10] With how valuable and useful  these internal materials are, [3:14] no one should be throwing them in a landfill.  The way the cobalt and lithium are extracted [3:20] from that proprietary liquid inside the  shredder machine is with something called [3:24] a filter press. The metal-rich liquid  is pumped into the large blue press, [3:29] and that proprietary liquid is hydraulically  squeezed out leaving behind something called [3:35] black mass on each of the individual filters.  The black mass is what's falling down the chute [3:41] as each of the filters are shaken, and is what  contains all of our coveted elements. The black [3:48] mass has been valuable enough to be called “the  new gold.” It really is the most valuable part of [3:54] this entire process and what Li-Cycle is after.  It's a vital ingredient in making new batteries. [4:00] One of the coolest parts about this system is  while they are using a ton of water inside, [4:04] it is a closed loop system and none of that  water ever leaves. It's not used up in any of [4:10] the reactions. There's also no air pollutants in  a traditional sense since nothing's being burned. [4:15] After the batteries have been shredded, sorted,  filtered, and pressed, we're left with these three [4:20] commodities here. We have the middle bag which  is full of plastics that came from floating off [4:26] the top of the liquid. Then over here we have the  aluminum and copper shred which sank down to the [4:32] bottom. And lastly we have our coveted black mass.  And this is where we find the cobalt, the lithium, [4:41] and the nickel. It feels a lot like black mud. The  elemental metals can be infinitely recycled and [4:50] 95% of the batteries that go through this system  are collected in one of these three bags. Lithium [4:57] batteries are extremely recyclable and Li-Cycle's  doing it right here in Arizona. It's like a [5:03] bunch of forbidden chocolate. The batteries are  collected here in the United States, recycled here [5:09] in the United States, and probably made into brand  new batteries using this, right here in the United [5:15] States. Super fun seeing this process. I do have  to fly home though so I'm not taking this with me. [5:21] Right here in Arizona is an above ground  lithium mine that's processing batteries [5:26] instead of earth. It generates 70% less emissions  recycling and reusing the battery than it would [5:33] be if we were mining it straight from the  earth the first time around. This Li-Cycle [5:37] Spoke in Arizona has the ability to process up to  18,000 tons worth of lithium ion battery material [5:44] every single year. The black mass will go onto  Li-Cycle's Rochester Hub facility in New York, [5:50] which is currently under construction.  The black mass gets processed right back [5:54] into valuable battery grade materials,  like lithium carbonate, lithium sulfate, [5:59] and cobalt sulfate. Hit that subscribe button if  you want to see how that happens. The Rochester [6:04] Hub is expected to be the largest source of  recycled lithium carbonate in North America. [6:08] At this point in the video you're  probably asking yourself, 'Hey Jerry, [6:12] but what am I supposed to do with my drawer  full of old cell phones and batteries I haven't [6:16] recycled yet?' And I have the answer for you.  89% of the population here in the United States [6:23] lives within 10 miles of a Call2Recycle drop  of location, most often found in Home Depot, [6:29] Lowes, Staples, or Office Max. Old batteries  and cell phones go in and they're shipped to [6:34] a recycling place just like this so they  can be turned into your next cell phone [6:38] or next EV. So now if you see someone online  suggesting that lithium batteries are thrown [6:44] into landfills or not recycled, this would  be a good video you can share with them. [6:48] It's a pretty fascinating process. Huge  thanks to Li-Cycle for letting us come [6:52] tour their massive facility. I learned a  lot today and I hope you did as well. Hit [6:57] that subscribe button if you haven't already.  Thanks a ton for watching. I'll see you around.