[outworlder]

> The fact that this is true, and that simultaneously there isn't a lithium battery recycling industry of any significant size indicates that lithium energy storage is still at an early stage

Where are all these lithium batteries ending up at? Landfills? Many other devices use lithium batteries, namely cellphones.

[Zigurd]

Small batteries are uneconomical to recycle, and most don't contain dangerous metals or other chemicals. Lead-acid batteries used for starter motors in cars are big, heavy, and contain lead, which you would pay to divert from landfills, even if recycling them isn't profitable on its own.

Lithium batteries from cars and large storage systems will be worth recycling when they are numerous enough. It's unclear if a phone battery will ever be worth recycling.