From Waste to Resource: How Lithium Ion Battery Pack Recycling Could Reshape India’s Battery Industry

• October 29, 2026
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India’s electric vehicle (EV), electronics, and renewable energy sectors are increasing demand for advanced battery technologies. However, as batteries reach the end of their useful life, recovering their valuable materials is becoming an equally important industrial priority. Lithium-ion battery recycling can help reduce raw-material dependency, improve resource efficiency, and strengthen India’s domestic battery supply chain.

For Glomore Electro-Tech, an Evolute Group company specializing in custom battery packs and battery management solutions, this transition highlights the importance of combining battery engineering with responsible lifecycle management.

Why Lithium Ion Battery Pack Recycling Matters for India

A lithium ion battery pack contains cells, electrical connections, protective components, and a Battery Management System (BMS). Depending on its chemistry, it may contain lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, aluminium, and graphite.

Recovering these materials can reduce waste and create secondary sources of industrial raw materials. According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026, lithium prices more than doubled between January 2025 and April 2026 amid growing demand and constrained supply. Cobalt prices also increased by approximately 130%, highlighting the potential supply-chain risks associated with critical minerals.

The IEA’s 2025 outlook further estimated that scaling up recycling could reduce the need for new mining by 5–30% by 2040, depending on the scenario. These findings strengthen the case for investing in battery recycling infrastructure.

How a Lithium Ion Battery Pack Becomes a Reusable Resource

Battery recycling involves several stages to recover valuable materials while managing electrical, chemical, and thermal risks.

1. Collection and Battery Assessment

Used batteries are collected, identified, and assessed for damage, remaining capacity, and safety. Diagnostic testing can help determine whether a battery is suitable for continued use, refurbishment, a second-life application, or recycling.

2. Safe Dismantling and Black Mass Production

After appropriate safety procedures, battery packs are dismantled and processed mechanically. This separates components and produces an intermediate material known as black mass, which contains valuable battery materials.

3. Material Recovery and Refining

Hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes recover selected metals from processed battery materials. The recovered materials must meet appropriate quality standards before being reused in manufacturing.

The economics depend on battery chemistry. For example, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries contain less nickel and cobalt than nickel-rich batteries, influencing the value of recovered materials. Efficient recycling therefore requires suitable technology, reliable collection volumes, and commercially viable recovery processes.

Latest Battery Recycling Developments in India: 2025–2026

Recent government initiatives and industrial investments demonstrate how India is strengthening its critical-mineral recycling ecosystem.

Date	Development	Industry impact
May 2025	The IEA reported nearly 30% growth in global lithium demand during 2024.	Highlights increasing demand for battery raw materials.
2 October 2025	India notified a ₹1,500 crore critical-mineral recycling incentive scheme.	Supports domestic recycling capacity and critical-mineral recovery.
January 2026	NITI Aayog released reports addressing circular economy opportunities, including end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.	Strengthens the policy focus on resource recovery and waste management.
6 March 2026	The Technology Development Board announced support for MiniMines Cleantech Solutions to commercialise a recycling process targeting battery-grade lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese salts.	Demonstrates investment in domestic recycling technology.
24 April 2026	Rocklink India’s integrated recycling facility in Uttar Pradesh was reported to have an initial lithium-ion battery processing capacity of 10,000 tonnes annually.	Adds to India’s developing critical-material recovery infrastructure.
30 April 2026	The Ministry of Mines announced 58 eligible companies, approximately 850,000 tonnes per annum of pledged recycling capacity, and ₹5,000 crore in pledged investment under its incentive scheme.	Indicates strong industrial interest in recycling, although pledged capacity is not the same as operational output.

The scale of the broader waste-management ecosystem is also significant. According to a Government of India update published in April 2026, 69.37 lakh metric tonnes of battery waste had been recycled as of 5 March 2026, with 520 registered battery recyclers. These figures cover battery waste broadly, not lithium-ion batteries alone.

How Glomore Electro-Tech Connects Battery Engineering with Sustainability

Glomore Electro-Tech, an Evolute Group company, develops custom battery packs for applications across electric mobility, IoT devices, medical equipment, and energy storage. Its portfolio includes lithium-ion and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) battery packs, supported by battery management and monitoring capabilities.

Its relevant capabilities include:

• Battery Management Systems (BMS): Support battery protection and management.
• Cell and temperature monitoring: Help identify abnormal operating conditions.
• State of Charge (SOC) and State of Health (SOH) integration: Provide information about battery usage and condition.
• Communication interfaces: Options such as UART, RS232, Bluetooth, and CAN support integration with suitable systems.

These technologies are relevant to battery lifecycle management. Monitoring battery performance can help businesses make informed decisions about maintenance, continued use, and assessment for potential second-life applications.

For example, a battery pack removed from industrial equipment may retain useful capacity. Appropriate testing can establish whether it can be safely reused or should proceed to an authorised recycling facility.

Glomore’s relevance lies in its battery pack engineering and monitoring expertise, rather than direct metal recovery. Specialised recycling facilities remain essential for extracting and refining valuable materials.

What Should Lithium Ion Battery Manufacturers Do Next?

For lithium ion battery manufacturers, electronics companies, and energy-storage integrators, sustainability must extend beyond production.

Businesses should prioritise battery traceability, service-life monitoring, designs that support safe dismantling, and partnerships with authorised recyclers. They should also follow India’s Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, and applicable Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements.

International collaboration is also expanding. On 6 May 2026, the European Union and India announced a €15.2 million (approximately ₹169 crore) joint initiative focused on EV battery recycling, including improved material recovery, safer collection systems, and pilot-scale recycling technologies.

For manufacturers, these developments create opportunities to strengthen resource security, improve material recovery, and build more resilient supply chains.

Conclusion: Building a Circular Battery Economy with Glomore

India’s battery recycling industry is progressing through policy support, technology development, and new infrastructure investments. The next challenge is to convert this momentum into efficient collection, commercially viable recovery, and stronger integration between recyclers and manufacturers.

Key takeaways:

• Recover valuable materials: Recycling lithium ion battery pack systems can return useful resources to industrial supply chains.
• Reduce resource dependency: Recovered materials can complement primary mining and diversify sourcing.
• Improve battery lifecycle management: BMS and monitoring technologies can support informed decisions about battery condition and continued use.
• Strengthen industry collaboration: Lithium ion battery manufacturers, electronics suppliers, and authorised recyclers all have important roles in a circular economy.
• Connect engineering with sustainability: Glomore’s battery pack engineering and monitoring capabilities are relevant to the wider transition towards responsible battery lifecycle management.

By combining battery technology, responsible lifecycle planning, and specialised recycling infrastructure, India can move closer to a more resilient and sustainable battery industry.