Government approval sets up development of flagship battery recycling centre

Preston-based recycling and waste management company, Recycling Lives, will open a new battery treatment and sorting centre in Workington after receiving ABTO (Approved Battery Treatment Operator) status from the Government.

It comes just weeks after the company achieved B Corp certification.

Work on the specialist battery treatment centre is already under way and scheduled to open its doors in March this year.

The state-of-the-art site will set the new industry standard for collection, storage and sorting of all battery types, with full traceability of each cell’s life journey from source.

By securing ABTO and ABE status, Recycling Lives can now sort, process, recycle and/or export all types of battery, from button cells commonly found in wristwatches, to Lithium e-bike, e-scooter and e-cigarette and vape batteries, plus everything in between.

Recycling Lives’ senior commercial manager, AJ Marsh who spearheaded the development of the Workington site, said: “We’re really pleased to have achieved ABTO status and are excited to get started at our Workington plant once it opens in March.

“As part of our existing recycling network, we have great connections with key disposal routes in the UK and on the continent, which means we’re already set up to keep much of processing in the UK, which is far more sustainable than exporting.

“Batteries can be a major pollutant during the disposal process, and yet contain a wealth of materials, such as lithium, which continue to be mined from the earth. Recycling Lives believe, with efficient recycling and extraction processes, we can help reduce long term damage to the planet.

“Lithium-ion batteries are also believed to contribute to almost half of all waste fires in the UK, which is why it is imperative that they are recycled using the best possible solution. Recycling Lives is committing to taking all types of cells and chemistries, no matter what battery it is, we’ll process, sort and recycle it via the most sustainable and reputable disposer route.”

The firm, founded in 1977, has expanded this to deliver environmental innovation and strong commercial offerings over the past decade, with ESG as a fully embedded business ethos.