Batteries now power everything from phones and laptops to power tools, e-bikes, vehicles, backup systems, and industrial equipment. As battery use expands, so does the number of batteries that will eventually reach the end of their useful life.
When those batteries do not enter appropriate collection and recycling systems, they can remain stored indefinitely, enter ordinary waste streams, create fire risks, or leave recyclable materials outside established recovery systems. Battery Recycling and Solutions provides battery recycling services for businesses and organizations managing used batteries.
Battery Recycling Statistics: Quick Facts
- An EPA-hosted industry presentation reported approximately 3 billion consumer batteries sold annually in the United States, with roughly 80% being single use batteries at the time (U.S. EPA, 2018).
- Approximately 231,000 tonnes of portable batteries were placed on the EU market in 2023, while 117,000 tonnes were collected for recycling.
- The EU portable battery collection rate was 49% in 2023 based on the applicable sales average (Eurostat, 2025).
- EPA research identified 245 fires at 64 waste management facilities between 2013 and 2020 that were caused or likely caused by lithium batteries.
- The EPA dataset recorded an increase from 2 fires at one facility in 2013 to 65 fires across 16 facilities in 2020 (U.S. EPA, 2021).
- Global lithium ion battery cell demand is projected to reach approximately 4,700 GWh by 2030.
- Approximately 1.4 million tons of battery materials are forecast to become available for recycling globally by 2030 (Statista, 2026).
- U.S. lead batteries achieved a 97.7% recycling rate across 2020 through 2024 (Battery Council International, 2026).
Billions of Batteries Enter Use
Battery recycling demand starts with the number of batteries entering homes, businesses, vehicles, and equipment.
Approximately 3 Billion Consumer Batteries Sold Annually
An EPA-hosted 2018 industry presentation reported approximately 3 billion consumer batteries sold annually in the United States at the time (U.S. EPA, 2018).
The same presentation estimated that:
- 80% were single use batteries
- 20% were rechargeable batteries
Because this data is older, it is best viewed as a historical baseline rather than a current 2026 sales estimate. Even then, billions of batteries were already entering use before the continued expansion of e-bikes, larger cordless tools, portable power stations, and other battery powered equipment.
Battery Applications Are Expanding
Battery use is moving beyond traditional household electronics.
EPA materials on mid-format batteries identify growing use in:
- E-bikes
- E-scooters
- Outdoor power equipment
- Portable power stations
- Power tools
EPA also identifies a broader trend toward greater electrification in these product categories, meaning end of life battery streams are becoming larger and more diverse.
Battery Collection is Still Incomplete
Putting batteries onto the market is only one side of the equation. Getting them back into appropriate collection systems remains a major challenge.
Less Than Half of EU Portable Batteries Were Collected
In 2023, approximately 231,000 tonnes of portable batteries and accumulators were placed on the EU market.
During the same year, approximately 117,000 tonnes of used portable batteries were collected for recycling.
Using the applicable three year average of battery sales, the resulting collection rate was 49% (Eurostat, 2025).
That does not mean the remaining batteries were all thrown away. Batteries may still be in use, stored in homes or businesses, exported, collected in later years, or entering other disposal routes.
What the figure does show is that even an established regulatory collection system does not automatically recover every portable battery entering the market.
Collection Has Improved, but the Gap Remains
EU portable battery collections increased from approximately 50,000 tonnes in 2009 to 117,000 tonnes in 2023
That is meaningful growth in collection volume, but the 2023 collection rate still remained at 49%.
The takeaway is straightforward: battery collection infrastructure is improving, but complete recovery remains difficult.
Lithium Batteries Are Creating a Waste Stream Fire Problem
One of the clearest consequences of improper battery disposal is the growing fire risk within ordinary waste and recycling systems.
EPA Identified 245 Battery Fires at Waste Facilities
EPA research identified 245 fires at 64 waste management facilities between 2013 and 2020 that were caused or likely caused by lithium ion or lithium metal batteries.
The incidents occurred across 28 states and all 10 EPA regions and affected different parts of the waste system, including:
- Material recovery facilities
- Landfills
- Waste collection vehicles
- Transfer stations
- Scrap yards
- Electronics recycling facilities
Reported Fires Increased Sharply
The EPA dataset showed a substantial increase over the study period.
2013: 2 fires at 1 facility
2020: 65 fires across 16 facilities
That increase illustrates why batteries entering ordinary waste streams have become an increasingly important safety issue.
The Actual Number May Be Higher
EPA also cautioned that its dataset was not a complete accounting of every lithium battery fire.
Not every fire becomes public, receives news coverage, or is clearly identified as having been caused by a battery. The documented total should therefore be viewed as confirmed or identified incidents within the available data rather than every battery fire that occurred.
Why Batteries in Household Trash and Recycling Are a Problem
Lithium ion batteries and devices containing them should not be placed into ordinary household trash or curbside recycling.
EPA explains that municipal waste and recycling systems are not designed to receive these batteries, and batteries can become damaged during collection, compaction, sorting, or processing.
A battery directed into an appropriate recycling channel is one less battery moving through garbage trucks, sorting equipment, municipal recycling facilities, or landfills where it does not belong.
The Battery Waste Stream is Getting More Complicated
The battery waste stream is no longer dominated by small disposable household batteries and consumer electronics.
Batteries Are Getting Larger and More Powerful
Mid-format rechargeable batteries are increasingly used in:
- E-bikes
- E-scooters
- Larger power tools
- Outdoor equipment
- Portable power stations
These products introduce larger batteries and higher amounts of stored energy into collection and recycling systems.
Transportation Gets More Complicated
EPA notes that as battery use expands into mid-format applications, transportation can become more complicated.
Battery chemistry, size, energy capacity, condition, labeling, packaging, and transportation method can all affect how an end of life battery needs to be managed.
That means growing battery use does not only create more recycling volume. It can also create more complicated collection and logistics requirements.
Future Battery Recycling Demand
Current battery demand provides a preview of the amount of material that recycling systems will eventually need to manage.
Lithium Ion Demand Could Reach 4,700 GWh
Global lithium ion battery cell demand is projected to reach approximately 4,700 GWh by 2030.
Those batteries will not all reach end of life at the same time, but continued manufacturing and adoption eventually translate into larger recycling streams.
1.4 Million Tons Could Be Available for Recycling
The amount of battery material available for recycling globally is forecast to reach approximately 1.4 million tons by 2030 (Statista, 2026).
That growth will require corresponding collection, transportation, processing, and recycling capacity.
Lead Batteries Show What Mature Collection Can Achieve
Lead batteries provide a useful example of what can happen when an established recycling and collection system exists.
97.7% U.S. Recycling Rate
Battery Council International reports a 97.7% U.S. lead battery recycling rate across 2020 through 2024.
More than 174 million lead batteries are processed annually through the U.S. recycling system, while North America has more than 300,000 spent lead battery collection sites.
The 97.7% figure is a five year aggregate across lead battery categories rather than an annual recycling rate for one particular battery type.
The broader takeaway is simple: established collection networks and clearly defined recycling routes can produce very high recovery rates.
Most Portable Batteries Are Not There Yet
For comparison:
- U.S. lead batteries: 97.7% recycling rate across 2020 through 2024
- EU portable batteries: 49% collection rate in 2023
These statistics measure different things and should not be treated as directly equivalent. However, they do demonstrate how dramatically battery recovery can differ based on battery category and the collection system supporting it.
Recycling Also Reduces Demand for New Material Production
Recycling can also reduce the amount of energy required to return battery materials to manufacturing.
Recycled Lead Uses Far Less Energy
For every 100,000 metric tonnes of lead:
- Primary lead production requires approximately 1,000 TJ of energy
- Secondary production using recycled lead requires approximately 13 TJ
- The difference represents approximately 99% lower energy use
Recycling Also Reduces CO2 Emissions
For the same quantity of lead:
- Primary production generates approximately 163 kilotonnes of CO2
- Secondary production generates approximately 2 kilotonnes of CO2
- That represents approximately a 99% reduction
Recovering battery materials reduces the amount of new material that must be produced from primary sources.
Battery Recycling Statistics at a Glance
| Statistic | Figure |
| Consumer batteries historically sold annually in U.S. | ~3 billion |
| EU portable batteries placed on market in 2023 | 231,000 tonnes |
| EU portable batteries collected in 2023 | 117,000 tonnes |
| EU portable battery collection rate | 49% |
| Lithium battery fires identified by EPA, 2013–2020 | 245 |
| Waste facilities affected | 64 |
| States represented in EPA fire study | 28 |
| Global lithium ion demand projected for 2030 | ~4,700 GWh |
| Battery materials potentially available for recycling by 2030 | ~1.4 million tons |
| U.S. lead battery recycling rate, 2020–2024 | 97.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions About Battery Recycling Statistics
How Many Batteries Are Sold Each Year?
An EPA-hosted 2018 industry presentation reported approximately 3 billion consumer batteries sold annually in the United States at the time.
What Percentage of Batteries Are Recycled?
There is no single recycling rate for every battery type. U.S. lead batteries achieved a 97.7% recycling rate across 2020 through 2024, while the EU reported a 49% collection rate for portable batteries in 2023.
How Many Lithium Battery Fires Have Occurred in Waste Facilities?
EPA identified 245 fires at 64 waste management facilities between 2013 and 2020 that were caused or likely caused by lithium batteries.
Why Should Batteries Not Go in Regular Recycling?
Lithium batteries can be damaged during waste collection, transportation, and sorting, creating short circuit and fire risks in trucks and waste facilities.
Is Battery Recycling Demand Increasing?
Yes. Global lithium ion battery demand is projected to reach approximately 4,700 GWh by 2030, while the volume of battery materials becoming available for recycling is also expected to increase.
Which Batteries Have the Highest Recycling Rate?
Lead batteries have one of the most established collection systems, with BCI reporting a 97.7% U.S. recycling rate across 2020 through 2024 (Battery Council International, 2026).
Conclusion: Why Battery Recycling Matters
Billions of batteries enter use, portable battery collection remains incomplete, and lithium batteries have already been linked to hundreds of documented fires in waste systems. At the same time, larger battery formats are becoming more common and global battery demand continues to rise.
The statistics point in one direction: more batteries need clear collection and recycling routes as they reach end of life. Battery Recycling and Solutions provides battery recycling services for businesses and organizations managing batteries across a wide range of chemistries, sizes, and quantities.