Disposing of old batteries can be a hassle for many people. But for battery recycling companies, this "junk" is a goldmine.
Massachusetts-based Ascend Elements celebrated the grand opening of its first commercial-scale recycling facility in Covington, Georgia in late March, said to be the "largest electric vehicle battery recycling facility in North America."
The factory covers an area of 14,000 square meters and is capable of processing 30,000 mt of used lithium-ion batteries and manufacturing waste per year, breaking down old batteries and processing the most valuable materials inside into new batteries.
Mike O'Kronley, chief executive of Ascend Elements, said that was equivalent to dismantling the battery packs of 70,000 electric cars a year.
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