From Trash to Treasure: Evolve’s Mission to Reimagine Dead Batteries and Electrify America

Most of us want to shrink our carbon footprint. Some of us try; some of us succeed, and the rest, well, we need to get with the program. As for Evolve Renewable Materials, Inc. they are on top of the program and helping make it easy for the rest of us to do better.

The team at Evolve, led by founder and CEO Mike Vogel, are on a mission to elevate battery recycling and drive the forward progress of America’s energy independence. They hope to instigate a change in perception that dead batteries are mere trash and instead highlight the rich resources that can be harvested from end-of-life batteries.

Given the increasing demand for batteries used in electric vehicles and electronic devices, coupled with the imperative for sustainability to combat the current climate crisis, there is a significant need for Evolve’s vision. This necessitates a collective effort to alter perceptions and adopt responsible practices in battery disposal and recycling of its precious materials.

Evolve Renewable Materials, Inc. is becoming that transformative force in sustainable battery recycling with a nationwide recycling effort to educate consumers on the importance of recycling batteries using their Li-Battery Drop Box collection program. This awareness initiative plays a crucial role in making recycling convenient and habitual for the public. Over the next year, the boxes will be provided at convenient retail locations nationwide so consumers can recycle their batteries. “Many people want to recycle batteries,” Keely Sage, Process Engineer at Evolve, notes, “they just don’t know where to do it, so oftentimes the batteries end up in the trash.”

Looking towards the long-term impact on society, Evolve envisions a societal shift towards responsible battery disposal and recycling of all kinds of batteries, especially lithium battery recycling, positioning them as leaders in helping create a cleaner, greener future.

The current disposal of batteries, where they often end up in landfills, is detrimental to the environment in a number of ways. Toxic chemicals from the batteries, like lead and mercury, contaminate the soil and leach into water sources. This pollution can then harm plants, animals and people. Also, batteries in landfills are a fire risk, further contributing to pollution in the air.

Mining for the materials needed to make batteries also poses significant environmental hazards. The process often involves deforestation, habitat disruption, water pollution, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to biodiversity loss and climate change. Resource depletion is also a concern, especially for non-renewable materials like cobalt and lithium. Additionally, waste generation, such as tailings and byproducts, and the risk of acid mine drainage further contribute to environmental degradation.

Human rights issues, including child labor and unsafe working conditions, have also been associated with mining operations, especially in regions with lax regulations where these materials are often found. While efforts are being made to adopt sustainable and ethical mining practices, most of the industry lags far behind.

In addition to the environmental benefits of battery recycling education and initiatives, Evolve highlights the economic advantages of recycling batteries. Locally recovering metals from dead batteries will reduce the costs of creating new batteries, making sustainable energy solutions more affordable for consumers. Their decentralized and scalable approach also contributes to a more efficient supply chain and again eliminates the need to source materials globally.

Dan Loper, Evolve’s Business Development Manager, explains, “Everyday lithium-ion batteries contain copper, zinc and many other materials that can be reused to make new batteries.” Vogel adds, “We are currently working on innovations for the ease of recycling lithium batteries as well. The EV industry is driving up the demand for lithium-based batteries here in the United States. We can get lithium, cobalt and nickel from the old batteries into the hands of the battery manufacturers so that they can build new batteries and not have to source those materials from faraway places. That’s the goal.”

Evolve Renewable Materials, Inc. is leading the charge in transforming battery recycling, which challenges old-school perceptions that dead batteries are mere waste. With a nationwide education effort through their box collection program, Evolve aims to make battery recycling convenient and instigate a societal shift towards responsible disposal. Positioned at the forefront of innovation, Evolve not only meets the urgent need for efficient recycling but also sets a high standard for environmental responsibility and a sustainable energy landscape.

For more information, visit www.evolvematerials.com. The company not only meets the urgent call for efficient recycling but sets a high standard for innovation, environmental responsibility, and a sustainable energy landscape.