Progress and challenges on battery waste management: A critical review

The use of batteries in the electronics, automobile, and chemical industries is growing rapidly worldwide. The portability, high energy density, and low maintenance needs of batteries eliminates the need for transportation or reticulation of power. However, battery technologies suffer from a limited life span, which results in a need for frequent replacement. The generation of large quantities of battery waste has created a need for an effective management strategy to safely treat and recover valuable resources used in battery manufacturing. This review covers current issues in battery waste management, including a description of the advantages, limitations, challenges, and economical feasibility of various treatment technologies. Future perspectives are also discussed to encourage research on imminent environmental issues associated with batteries. Copyright © 2020 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.