[horseAMcharlie]

I don't know about whether lithium recycling supply chains are better or worse than lithium mining supply chains from an environmental or GhG perspective but there is no doubt a great deal of academic literature on the topic, as there is for all other economically significant metals. I do however know that the numbers for steel production are heavily in favor of recycling, if that helps.

Prices, being social constructs, have very little to do with the green attributes (or lack) of any traded commodity.