07-21-2026IMPACT COUNCIL

Battery recycling solves mineral security

As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, battery recycling offers the U.S. a faster, more reliable path to domestic supply than mining alone.

[Photo: Getty Images]

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Global competition for critical minerals is reshaping economic and technological leadership. Lithium, cobalt, and nickel power everything from electric vehicles to grid-scale storage. Yet as demand surges, access remains fragile, with much of the world’s mining and refining capacity concentrated outside the United States.

The U.S. cannot afford to wait for long-term fixes to mineral security. As CEO of The Battery Network, I see firsthand that one of the fastest ways to strengthen supply chains isn’t opening new mines—it’s recovering the materials already in circulation. Battery recycling is often framed as a sustainability choice. In reality, it is one of the most immediate and underutilized tools for domestic supply.

The stakes are immediate

Demand for critical........

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