As the global spotlight intensifies on battery recycling and strategic raw materials, ICM AG, organisers of the upcoming International Congress for Battery Recycling (ICBR), taking place from 10–12 September in Valencia, Spain, spoke with Catherine Ricou, CEO of SARPI, Veolia Hazardous Waste Solutions Europe. Ricou outlines Veolia’s growing footprint in the battery recycling value chain, its strategic vision for Europe and beyond, and why events like ICBR are vital for shaping the industry’s sustainable future.
ICM: Please give us an overview of Veolia’s battery recycling business.
Catherine Ricou: Veolia began exploring the strategic potential of innovative recycling loops in 2018. Battery recycling, so far a niche market, is one of the circular value chains that we decided to explore further, with several existing operational plants, one in France (Euro Dieuze Industrie) and one in Switzerland (Batrec). These two plants can process more than 22,500 tons (battery equivalent), producing black mass from either portable or electric vehicle batteries.
In 2021, Veolia decided to invest in its first hydrometallurgy plant in France, a 7,000 tonnes per year, commissioned in March 2025, refining strategic metals on an existing SARPI plant in the East of France.
Currently, Veolia is expanding its operations to the UK and Slovenia, constructing two mechanical treatment plants undergoing commissioning.
In Europe, our model is to develop a network of local mechanical treatment capacities close to customers, and centralize the blackmass treatment in hydrometallurgy hubs. From a regulatory standpoint, in Europe, used electric batteries are classified as hazardous waste, which means that they need to be treated in specific sites having an authorized permit to be able to treat them in a safe manner with environmental specific requirements. Veolia’s hazardous waste business in Europe has been developing these capabilities to create this network.
In North America, Veolia has several business models, one being based on providing battery collection and logistics services to clients and partnering with battery recyclers. In Asia, Veolia’s model is more based on joint ventures and partnerships with refining players. such as Japan, where Veolia is commissioning a mechanical treatment plant partnering with local refiners.
As of today, Veolia has capacities for blackmass production and hydrometallurgy and is also working with several partners for the final step of the process.
ICM: Why is this market important to the Group?
Catherine Ricou: As part of the Veolia 24-27 GreenUp strategy, the Veolia hazardous waste business is developing solutions to recycle and regenerate resources, with strategic metals as one of our priorities. The European Critical Raw Materials Act is supporting the development of projects targeting Strategic metal recovery as a major European sovereignty concern.
In addition, from a market perspective, global demand for batteries is and will continue to increase (driven by the energy transition, the rise of electric vehicles, and the expansion of renewable energy storage) there will be a need for sustainable solutions to recover valuable materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel,…
Veolia’s extensive experience in recycling and material regeneration positions the company as a key player in addressing the challenge of finite metal resources. By leveraging over 20 years of expertise in strategic metal management, including Lithium and Nickel, and pioneering mercury regeneration from waste, Veolia can apply its know-how to battery recycling, ensuring that critical raw materials are efficiently recovered and reintroduced into the supply chain. This contributes to reducing reliance on mining, minimizing environmental impact, and supporting the circular economy.
ICM: What are your ambitions for Veolia in the battery recycling business?
Catherine Ricou: From a market perspective, 40 million EVs are in circulation around the world, and despite the slowdown in Europe, the growth worldwide is a steady 25%/y. Gigafactories are ramping up in the EU and the USA, even though in the EU, only 10 out of the 40 announced projects will actually be built by 2030. China is flooding the market with cheap LFP batteries (40% of total production). LFPs question existing recycling models, and it’s likely that specific processes will emerge.
In Europe, we see that the electric vehicle battery industry is currently facing a complex challenge with market consolidation and difficulties to deliver its promises as China takes a wider position in the market.
Regarding this market situation, Veolia has a pragmatic approach of developing local and mid-size capabilities (recycling platforms) to be able to grow the recycling business following market trends and shifting accordingly to market evolution. The lack of hydrometallurgy capacity in the EU and the US allows black mass to flee to Asia/China.
Europe needs to create the conditions for the market and the industrial recycling ecosystem to emerge in a sustainable way so players can invest in the long run for a real closed-loop circular economy.
Part of our strategy is to pursue our developments with gigafactories (NMP, slurry, scraps…) and to strengthen Veolia’s presence in Poland & Hungary as Central Europe is becoming the main continental battery and automotive hub.
ICM: You are sponsoring ICBR 2025. Why is it important for you to be there this year?
Catherine Ricou: Veolia’s sponsorship of ICBR 2025 underscores its commitment to leading the global conversation on battery recycling and sustainable resource management. As a key player in the energy transition market and a board member of ICBR, Veolia recognizes the importance of engaging with industry experts, policymakers, and innovators to drive advancements in recycling technologies and regulations.
This year’s event is particularly crucial as the demand for batteries continues to surge, fuelled by the regulatory shifts towards circular economy principles. By actively participating, Veolia aims to shape the future of the industry, share its expertise in recycling solutions, and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure responsible resource management.
Furthermore, ICBR 2025 provides a platform to showcase Veolia’s latest innovations and demonstrate how its advanced processes contribute to reducing environmental impact while recovering valuable materials. By strengthening industry partnerships and staying at the forefront of regulatory developments, Veolia remains a trusted leader in battery recycling, helping to accelerate sustainable practices worldwide.
