The Battery & Critical Metals Recycling Conference (BCMRC) debuted this past summer at The Westin Buckhead in Atlanta. Strategically located within the Battery Belt, a hub of thriving electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing and investment, the BCMRC was supercharged with programming that gave attendees a holistic view of the battery recycling industry.
Kicked off by John Kelly, chief operating officer of Cirba Solutions, the opening keynote set the tone for the event by exploring the rapid pace at which the battery recycling sector has evolved and its future trajectory.
Speakers John Gross of The Copper Journal and John E. Gross Consulting and Sarah Colbourn of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence delved into escalating demand for lithium-ion batteries and its implications for raw materials. Attendees received an exclusive view of the intricate relationship between battery recycling and market dynamics.
Sessions also focused on transportation and shipping of end-of-life batteries, stressing potential hazards and the need for strict adherence to evolving regulations; discussions on battery collection challenges and the potential role of extended producer responsibility; safety concerns surrounding lithium-ion battery fires; and managing end-of-life EV batteries and exploring remanufacturing as a way to address critical metal shortages.
Throughout these sessions, attendees engaged with speakers directly and participated in discussions.
Many speakers talked about the importance of collaborative efforts to address challenges and steer the sector toward a more sustainable and responsible future. To that end, the BCMRC fostered meaningful conversations among industry leaders and participants.
The Battery & Critical Metals Recycling Conference is produced by Recycling Today Events.