What a mess ! ( Recycling EV batteries )
 

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021...dead-batteries

In summary, there are two ways to recycle EV batteries - burning them to extract any valuable materials, and extraction through a bath of acid.
Both are hazardous to both the workers and the environment.

Different manufacturers use different designs of batteries.
Tesla uses glues in their batteries that are extremely difficult to pry apart.
Nissan Leaf batteries take several hours to disassemble.

Older designs may be seen as worthless.

Not surprisingly, the U.S. has not acted on any regulatory plan for future recycling - except California.

Surprisingly, it is China that has stepped ahead with recycling of EV batteries.


Imagine how many batteries are going to need to be recycled when each one can only last 10 years.

EDIT : I imagine some will share this article as fuel for the argument that complacency is better than action.
We don't need to keep going the way we always have, but there are challenges that need to be addressed.

Batteries are typically scrapped for the steel housing, aluminum conductors and supports and copper conductors.
If the battery material is recycled it's only to go after the cobalt and copper.

Redwood Materials in Nevada is recycling a lot of EV and other types of Lithium batteries. They are supposed to have an environmentally friendly process. JB Straubel started the company. He was one of the Tesla partners.
There are 2 others that I can't remember the names of at the moment. Check stock market searches for them. Invest in them if you want.

If they can't be easily recycled, into the landfill they go. From what I've understood, the chemicals don't pose a health threat if the leach into the ground.

Most EV batteries are reused in the secondary markets
(Think battery hookup)

Newer chemistries don’t have any dangerous compounds (like cobalt) and are easier to process

Mobile device batteries use a lot more cobalt.
That's what they are really after.

How long can they be reused before the battery can hold 0 energy? I suppose that depends on a lot of individual factors, but it seems that at some point they end up useless unless recycled.

Some of the mediocre large prismatic ancient Chinese 1st Gen lithium are functional albeit degraded at nearly 20 years old

Sure might have dropped a few cells but hobbiests just wire over them.

In power walls Chevy Volt packs will likely have outliers go beyond 20 years
1st Gen Volt Design life being 15 years means you will a non insignificant portion make it to middle age in a power wall scenario

Yes
China CCP Slave Labor for EV batteries, Solar, and other low quality copy crap exports