Volkswagen and lithium-ion battery recycler Redwood Materials have partnered to offer US consumers a convenient way to recycle rechargeable devices or lithium-ion batteries.

Participating Volkswagen dealerships will offer Redwood bins for easy and safe disposal of rechargeable batteries and consumer devices, including cell phones, laptops, tablets, cordless power tools, electric toothbrushes, wireless headphones and old vacuum batteries. The program launched at 14 dealerships in April, and additional locations will be added throughout the year. The collaboration between Volkswagen Group of America and Redwood began last year with a recycling deal for all Volkswagen and Audi EV battery packs.

According to Redwood, its technology can recover more than 95% of the critical minerals from batteries (like nickel, cobalt, lithium and copper) and then manufacture the metals into battery components to be supplied to US battery manufacturers for new EVs and energy storage products.

“Volkswagen’s goal is to provide more accessible and sustainable electric mobility for American drivers,” said Andrew Savvas, Executive VP and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Volkswagen North America.

Source: Volkswagen