Loss of valuable resources
Batteries are mostly comprised of metals & plastic. Some of these such as cobalt are mined in conditions which most Australia would find unacceptable . The least we can do is recognize the value of their sacrifice by protecting the resources themselves. Disposal to landfill means these resources are locked up from further use. In a circular economy, we would see valuable resources used again, capturing metals & reducing the need for extraction of raw materials.
Almost all batteries can be recycled to recover metals and other valuable components as shown in the table below.
| Processing of Battery Type | Contents (may vary depending on application/battery type) |
| Lithium-ion | Phosphate, cobalt (heavy metal), lithium, carbon, Silicon, graphite, manganese, tin, iron, copper, nickel, plastic |
| Lithium metal / Lithium Primary | Lithium perchlorate (possible), organic solvents |
| Nickel-metal hydride | Nickel (heavy metal), potassium hydroxide, Zinc, Aluminium, Cobalt, Manganese, Misch Metal (rare earth) |
| Nickel Cadmium | Nickel oxide hydroxide, cadmium (toxic heavy metal) |
| Some button cell batteries | Lithium ion, Mercury, alkaline, silver oxide, manganese, silver |
| Alkaline batteries | Zinc, manganese, potassium hydroxide, casing materials, separator materials, plastic, plastic, aluminium, mercury (in older batteries) |
| Lead acid | Lead, carbon black, barium sulphate, separates (wood, glass, plastic, rubber, glass, cellulose or PVC) |
The value of materials recovered from batteries varies. Resource recovery is particularly important for some of the scarcer materials, but in general there is no doubt that the majority have real value that is lost for the foreseeable future once it enters the landfill.
Recent studies by the Battery University found that the viability of recycling is dependent on battery type.
This table provides an indication of this variation and highlights the inhibitors for market forces to responsibly manage the lower value batteries such as lithium ion and nickel cadmium.
| Battery Chemistry | Recycling |
| Lithium cobalt oxide | Subsidy needed |
| Cobalt | Subsidy needed |
| Lithium iron phosphate | Subsidy needed |
| Lead acid | Profitable |
| Nickel | Subsidy needed |
| Cadmium | Subsidy needed |