Battery recycling is the collection of used batteries and the recovery of valuable materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and plastics. The goal is to keep hazardous waste out of landfills while reducing the need for new raw material extraction. In practice, batteries are sorted, safely discharged, dismantled, and processed so metals and other components can be reused in new products.
In cyber security, battery recycling matters because many batteries are embedded in devices that also contain electronics, memory, sensors, and firmware. If end-of-life handling is weak, attackers or careless handlers may gain access to discarded equipment, exposed identifiers, stored credentials, or removable storage. Recycling is also part of asset disposal control: organizations should wipe data, remove or destroy sensitive components, verify chain of custody, and use trusted recycling vendors. A secure recycling process helps prevent data leakage, tampering, and unsafe handling of battery-powered hardware.