by MAURA KELLER
mkeller@americanrecycler.com
Within the traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) auto recycling industry, the training required to properly dismantle vehicles is expansive as recyclers need to be continually trained about new technological advances in today’s high-tech vehicles. When it comes to recycling electric vehicles (EVs), the required training is far more extensive as properly handing lithium ion batteries and other key elements within the EV platform can mean the difference between life and death.
According to Rob Dillan, founder of EVhype.com, an EV charging station portal and social network, the regulations facing the EV recycling industry are extremely diverse as regulations concerning end-of-life EVs vary significantly across jurisdictions.
In the EU, for example, the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive mandates the recycling of at least 85 percent (by weight) of the vehicle, including battery components. The U.S. follows a more decentralized approach, with guidelines varying by state, focusing on safe handling and disposal of hazardous materials.
“The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) provides guidelines, such as ISO 22628, detailing recycling and material recovery rates, which serve as a benchmark for recyclers worldwide,” Dillan said. Specifically, the ISP specifies a means of calculating the recyclability rate and the recoverability rate of new vehicles – both ICE and EVs – identified as a mass fraction of the vehicle.
And while the U.S. has no federal or state laws or policies requiring EV battery recycling, California is developing a policy that would increase EV battery recycling in the state, becoming the first with lithium-ion U.S. battery recycling regulations, including looking at putting the responsibility of EV battery recycling on producers.
The End-of-Life Vehicles Directive mandates the recycling of at least 95 percent (by weight) of the vehicle, including battery components.
Andy Latham, founder and chief executive officer at Salvage Wire, also pointed to many different rules and regulations across the world as it relates to EV recycling, many are country specific and some are regional.
“The toughest is the EU End of Life Vehicle (ELV) Directive that has been in place since 2001 and is going through a consultation process before being updated in a few years’ time,” Latham said.
The original ELV directive had to be transferred into the laws of each member state of the EU and as a result there were slight variations in how it was implemented. As Latham explained, it is expected that the updated version will be a regulation that each country must be bound by so they all follow the same rules.
“As the UK is no longer in the EU we wait to see what the UK government will do, but our expectation is that they will follow EU rules in this area,” Latham said.
A lot of countries have used the EU ELV Directive as a template for their own regulations, and have either copied it wholesale or selected the parts that they want.
According to Latham, the ELV directive specifies that 95 percent of every ELV must be recycled or re-used, this influences the design of the vehicle as well as the recycling at end of life. The directive also specifies what is hazardous and must be removed before the vehicle goes into crushing or shredding. This includes batteries, fluids, tires, catalysts, pyrotechnic devices, controlled parts and more.
“The plastics must be identified so they can be removed and recycled and it also limits some substances from being built into the vehicle (e.g., mercury), which means manufacturers must design for recycling,” Latham said.
Other countries have differing rules and regulations, and Latham believes that some countries have differing rules in each state.
“All professional vehicle dismantlers and recyclers should at minimum meet the regulations for the country or area they operate in and ideally exceed the regulations,” Latham said.
Training & EV Component Knowledge
As EV recycling regulations and policies are slowly integrated into the fabric of the auto recycling industry, industry professionals turn their attention to the training opportunities surrounding these vehicles.
Dillan indicated there are key critical regulatory aspects for auto recyclers that affect the education and training of proper handling and recycling – all of which auto recyclers need to fully understand as part of the training process.
These aspects include:
- Battery handling – With EV batteries classified as hazardous waste, regulations stipulate specific handling, storage, and disposal methods to prevent environmental contamination and ensure worker safety.
- Material recovery – Regulations often outline minimum recovery rates for materials, pushing recyclers to adopt efficient methods to extract valuable components like lithium, cobalt, and nickel from EV batteries. “Mandatory thresholds will regulate the overall efficiency of recycling rates as follows: by 2025, reaching 90 percent for cobalt, copper, and nickel, and 35 percent for lithium; increasing to 95 percent and 70 percent respectively by 2030,” Dillan said.
- Certification and reporting – Compliance with local and international standards requires recyclers to obtain necessary certifications and maintain detailed records of their recycling processes and outcomes. As Dillan pointed out, commencing in 2025, it becomes obligatory to disclose the proportions of recycled materials used. By 2030, the required levels will be 12 percent for cobalt, 4 percent for lithium, and 4 percent for nickel.
EV dismantling training opportunities continually evolve as these vehicles become more mainstream on U.S. roads. Recently, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) co-hosted a series of two day classes to offer safe electric vehicle (EV) battery handling and dismantling certification. Working in partnership with the Energy Security Agency (ESA), ISRI is offering the certification classes that were designed to educate auto recycling professionals with the knowledge and skills safely interact with and dismantle to EVs and lithium-ion batteries. In addition, the National Institute for Automotive Service (ASE) has recently announced the creation of Electric Vehicle Technician/Shop Personnel Electrical Safety Standards that auto recyclers can utilize in training of their employees.
The recent increase in the number of EVs reaching end-of-life status has prompted the U.S. EPA to examine lithium-ion batteries at end of life, including establishing universal waste handling requirements, hazardous waste recycling regulations, and other provisions that apply to this hazardous waste stream. These requirements are expected to address how to properly manage EV waste, how to label containers, how long the waste can be accumulated on site, where the waste can be sent, and other aspects of end-of-life, EV battery management.
Resources Aplenty
As is evident with any new technology, the regulations surrounding EV dismantling are evolving. Staying on top of these regulations, especially as they evolve, is vital for the safety of auto recyclers and their employees. Dillan said it is imperative to stay informed and compliant. This includes embracing continuous education.
“Auto recyclers must engage in ongoing education and training programs to stay updated on best practices and regulatory changes related to EV recycling,” Dillan said. “The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) offers extensive resources, including compliance guides and training modules, to help recyclers stay informed about regulatory developments.”
Dillan also pointed to professional networks as joining industry associations can provide recyclers with access to resources, updates, and advocacy platforms regarding regulatory developments.
“With EV battery technology rapidly evolving, recyclers are urged to invest in innovative recycling technologies that can adapt to changes in battery chemistry and design, ensuring compliance with future regulatory standards,” Dillan said.
Latham pointed to membership of a state or country association will be imperative because these associations are able to advise all their members on the standards they need to achieve. They will also promote new regulations so their members know them well in advance and can plan their budget and time management accordingly.
Associations, such as the Automotive Recyclers Association, can also influence new regulations by talking to policymakers and governments. Latham said this is only possible if they have a significant volume of members, all members have paid their fees and members support the activities of the association.
“Non-members will benefit from this advocacy because associations can and do influence future regulations. Association members can use their voice or their time, to help associations get their message across and make regulations more acceptable to the industry, but many association members do not support their associations by responding to requests for information or attending association events. Just imagine how effective a trade association could be if every member responded to requests for information and attended the annual conference,” Latham said.
Latham further stressed that excellence matters. Doing something with excellence means that auto recyclers have put in all possible effort to make sure that none of their work is overlooked or unfinished.
“Being proud of what we do means being excellent. That means exceeding current regulations, it means working with like-minded competitors through a trade association, to invest time and effort in shaping future legislation so that it works effectively for everyone and benefits the climate, work environment, our people and industry,” Latham said.
Looking Ahead
Anticipating tighter EV dismantling regulations, especially as the global push towards solid-state batteries gains momentum, Dillan said recyclers must prepare for shifts in recycling methodologies and regulatory criteria, that are likely to become more stringent in response to technological advancements.
“In the dynamic field of EV recycling, staying ahead of regulatory curves is imperative for auto recyclers,” Dillan said. “Leveraging statistical data, continuous learning, and technological adaptability will be key to navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by the end-of-life phase of EVs.”
