Technology Minerals PLC (LSE:TM1)’s 49% owned joint venture Recyclus has opened its first lead-acid battery recycling centre.
The plant, at Tipton in the West Midlands, is scheduled to start operations next week with a processing rate of 16,000 tonnes in the first full year of production rising to around 80,000 tonnes by 2027.
The automated process recovers lead, acid, and plastic materials that can be re-used to support a wide range of industries.
Recyclus aims to open a new lithium-ion recycling facility in Wolverhampton in February.
Robin Brundle, Technology Minerals chairman, added: "With the opening of the lead-acid plant at Tipton, Recyclus are industrialising and mechanising a long-established industry that has traditionally been very labour intensive.
“The efficiencies of the plant - combined with Recyclus' processes - really modernise the sector and will assist in reducing the number of batteries that are either incinerated or, worse still, sent to landfill.
“This is the first of ten plants Recyclus expects to open over the next six years to be a first mover in the battery recycling sector with its innovative IP in the Li-ion sector a driving factor in its expansion strategy."