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Who recycles used batteries in Costa Rica?

Fortech is a Costa Rican company that recycles used batteries. Their customers include German firms. GIZ helped them realise their vision. To make the battery for a new electric car, about 6 kilos of lithium and another 11 of cobalt are needed, as well as 30 kilos of nickel and 10 of manganese.

Could a Costa Rican company replicate its commitment to a battery recycling plant?

A Costa Rican company works to install a battery recycling and end-of-life plant that plans to replicate its commitment with allies throughout the region.

How many batteries are disused in Costa Rica?

Some 1,500 tons of batteries fall into disuse annually in Costa Rica, says Francisco, the company’s project manager. While mining multinationals seek to extract lithium from the salt flats of Chile, Bolivia or Australia, in Costa Rica this company innovates with “urban mining” that recycles minerals.

How many used batteries are processed in Costa Rica in 2024?

In 2024 the Costa Ricans processed 100 tonnes of used batteries producing black mass. This year, for the first time, they aim to operate at full capacity and process 1,000 tonnes. The GIZ project in Costa Rica has now ended.

Can a battery be used for urban mining in Costa Rica?

Daniel Rivas, technical manager in charge of batteries at Fortech, said that they are looking to “recover the materials to be able to carry out urban mining” and not have to “go to a mine to do more damage to the environment”. Mining is prohibited by law in Costa Rica.

Where can we recycle used lithium-ion batteries?

In Costa Rica, a local company called Fortech has been extracting minerals from used lithium-ion batteries since 2023. It is the first recycling plant of its sort in Central America. In 2018 Fortech won a call for ideas staged by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.