Recyclus Group— a battery recycling business 49% owned by Technology Minerals— has been awarded an environmental permit from the Environment Agency for its lithium-ion battery recycling plant in Wolverhampton, UK.
The permit provides the legal foundation from which Recyclus can receive the variation of licence required to enable the Wolverhampton site to become fully operational.
This variation of licence is required due to the novelty of recycling lithium-ion batteries within the UK.
The EA has prioritised the determination of Recyclus’ application to transfer its permits across its lithium-ion battery recycling plant in Wolverhampton and lead-acid battery recycling plant in Tipton, UK.
A Technology Minerals press release stated this priority status was given to Recyclus as the EA was satisfied the development of the company would help maintain national resilience, national infrastructure and/or is critical for environmental protection.
Once the site is fully operational, the Wolverhampton plant will recycle lithium-ion batteries on an “industrial scale” and will be a key foundation of Recyclus’ ambition to increase its lithium-ion battery recycling capacity from an estimated 8,300 tonnes in the first full year of operations, to around 41,500 tonnes by 2027.
This is the second EA permit Recyclus has been awarded in following the environmental permit obtained for its Tipton recycling facility in May.
Robin Brundle, chairman of Technology Minerals, said: “Receiving the EA permit for our Wolverhampton plant is a critical step for the recycling facility to become fully operational which, for the first time, will bring industrial scale recycling capability for lithium-ion batteries in the UK.
“To be awarded priority status and be categorised as an organisation critical for environmental protection is fantastic.
“This high-level of recognition from the EA is reflective of the importance of Recyclus’ ambition to recycle batteries and establish a circular economy for battery metals in the UK. With the increasing demand for critical battery metals, we are pleased to be seen as integral to ensuring a domestic supply through recycling.”
