India currently recycles only 1 per cent of its end-of-life lithium-ion batteries into usable materials. This low recovery rate signals an urgent environmental challenge and a major economic opportunity waiting to be unlocked. These concerns took centre stage at the launch of a report on Lithium-Ion battery recycling ecosystem titled “Charging Ahead – Transforming India’s Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Ecosystem”, a comprehensive report by India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) and Accenture. The report presents a strategic blueprint to build a domestic circular battery economy worth $3.5 billion by 2030, aligned with India’s growing demand for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and energy storage systems.
The report recommends that policy regulations to use recycled materials/inputs should be pragmatic in approach. Availability of high-quality recycled material is the key, the matching need to recycling capacities are largely unaddressed.
The event convened over 100 industry leaders, policymakers, and sustainability experts, signalling unusual consensus around the urgency of action. Findings of the reports were presented by Mr. Sundeep Singh from Accenture while senior government officials including Ms. Sunita Verma from Ministry of Electronics and IT, Ms. Youthika Puri & Mr. V P Yadav from CPCB, and Mr. Amit Verma from NITI Aayog addressed the gathering. Dr. Sandip Chatterjee from SERI shared the international perspective.
Highlights of the Report
The report underscores the transformative impact of systematic interventions in India’s lithium-ion battery (LIB) recycling ecosystem. With the implementation of key recommendations, the recycling sector could create up to 41,000 green jobs across the value chain by 2030. It also projects an annual reduction of 75,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, equivalent to taking 60,000 vehicles off Indian roads, and water savings of 5.7 billion gallons—enough to meet the annual needs of a city of half a million people. A robust recycling ecosystem could also supply 14% of India’s battery-active material demand, strengthening the country’s strategic autonomy and reducing dependence on imports of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
The report outlines four key areas requiring strategic and coordinated action:
- Scaling Domestic Cell Manufacturing, Building Hydrometallurgical Capabilities
- Reforming Trade Regulations, Revamping Reverse Logistics
Mr. Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman of ICEA, framed the challenge in strategic terms: “Sustainability is one of the most promising economic opportunities of our time. Battery recycling sits at the intersection of India’s environmental priorities and its strategic autonomy in critical minerals. With the right policy support and entrepreneurial drive, India can unlock a $3.5 billion circular battery economy, reduce import dependencies, and establish itself as a global powerhouse in clean technologies.”
Mr. Mohindroo also announced the launch of Centre of Sustainability for Pure Earth. The industry body aims to address various issues regarding sustainability. The CSPE has taken the task to make Delhi air cleaner by efficiently processing parali into renewable energy for thermal power plants.
Ms. Sunita Verma, Scientist-G & Group Coordinator, Ministry of Electronics & IT said: “This report addresses a critical pillar of India’s electronics and energy transition. At MeitY, we are committed to fostering a circular economy through indigenous technologies, formalising the recycling sector, and building capacity across the value chain. The Centre of Excellence at C-MET Hyderabad is already supporting over 25 industries in lithium-ion battery recycling. This report will inform our efforts towards material self-reliance, reduced import dependency, and environmental sustainability.”
Mr. Amit Verma, Director (Economic & Finance), NITI Aayog, said: “This report addresses a critical need in our clean energy transition—lithium-ion battery recycling. As EVs and energy storage scale up, a circular economy for critical materials is essential. It offers valuable insights on policy, technology, and the importance of reverse logistics and formalisation. At NITI Aayog, we are committed to advancing sustainable circular models, and this report will be a key reference in shaping that future.”
Dr. Sandip Chatterjee, Global recycling expert and Senior Advisor – SERI, said: “As India advances toward its $10 trillion digital economy vision, lithium-ion battery recycling is central to ensuring sustainability and material security. This timely report highlights the need for design for recyclability, modular standards, and strong collection systems aligned with global best practices. It also urges us to recover a wider range of critical materials essential to electronics manufacturing.”
Mr. V. P. Yadav, Scientist-F & Division Head, WM-I, CPCB, said: “This report marks an important step in strengthening India’s lithium-ion battery recycling framework. With the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 in place, CPCB is focused on effective EPR implementation, compliance, and traceability. The report’s insights will support our efforts in building infrastructure, guiding stakeholders, and ensuring environmentally sound recycling across the value chain.”
The event culminated with a keynote address from Ms. Youthika Puri, Scientist-E & Division Head – WM-III, CPCB, who delivered a call to action: “Rapid Li‑ion adoption must be matched by an agile recycling ecosystem. The Battery Waste Management Rules provide the framework, but we now need strong infrastructure, rigorous EPR, efficient take‑back channels and a mindset shift across all stakeholders. By prioritising critical‑mineral recovery and domestic black‑mass processing, we can slash import dependence and build resilience. This report points us firmly in that direction.”
Policy Realism
The report proposes constructive recommendations to the Battery Waste Management Rules (2022), supporting India’s recycling ambition. It recommends a two-year deferral for certain obligations and a reduction in recycled content targets, making them achievable while preserving long term goals.
By prioritizing the recovery of critical battery-active materials, the report advocates a focused strategy that maximizes economic and technical feasibility. This targeted approach supports efficient use of resources and fosters a sustainable recycling ecosystem, complementing broader environmental objectives.
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