China's Battery Recycling Industry to Explode as Retirements Hit 1M Tons in 2026

On June 30, China's Automotive Power Battery Innovation Alliance released a report projecting domestic battery retirements to reach 1 million tons in 2026 and over 5 million tons by 2035. In 2025, waste battery generation reached approximately 400,000 tons, with recycled materials already meeting over 10% of domestic battery production needs.