Recycling

The Battery Recycling Committee convened its first meeting of 2026 on January 13, led by co-chairs Renata Arsenault and Todd Coy, with 68 participants joining via Zoom. The agenda included discussions on future events, notably an in-person meeting at the NAATBatt Conference in Arizona. Key presentations featured Masaya Hanzawa discussing the classification system for black mass in battery recycling, Preston Bryant from Momentum Technologies introducing innovative refining processes for critical metals, and Clare Davis-Wheeler Chin from Sandia National Labs presenting microwave-assisted cathode upcycling technology. Arsenault emphasized the USABC's commitment to advanced recycling initiatives and encouraged funding proposals, concluding the meeting with a Q&A session and action items for members to prepare for upcoming discussions, including monitoring Supreme Court decisions on tariffs.%0aThe presentations highlighted significant advancements in battery recycling. Masaya Hanzawa's presentation focused on the classification of black mass, which is crucial for optimizing recycling processes and is still under development, inviting audience feedback. Preston Bryant detailed Momentum Technologies' mission to produce high-purity metals for lithium-ion batteries and rare earth magnets, showcasing their innovative processing technology and plans for a commercial plant in Ohio. These discussions underscored the importance of collaboration and innovation in the battery recycling sector.