Batteries power modern life — from household devices to electric vehicles — but when improperly disposed, they pose serious safety risks and environmental hazards. At the same time, batteries contain valuable materials that can be recovered and returned to productive use.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is launching the Battery Circularity Program to improve how batteries are collected, recycled, and reprocessed across the state.
Battery circularity is a sustainable, closed-loop approach for batteries - including electric vehicle (EV) batteries - that maximizes their lifecycle through reuse, repurposing, and recycling to reduce reliance on raw material mining.
Improper battery disposal can result in:
The Battery Circularity Program addresses end-of-life solutions for:
The program will evaluate current collection systems, identify gaps, improve safety practices, and support infrastructure development across the battery value chain.
The Battery Circularity Program will:
Updates will be posted on this page as the initiative progresses.
As part of this initiative, NextCycle Michigan will launch a special accelerator focused on battery recycling solutions. The accelerator will provide:
The goal is to move promising ideas toward implementation in Michigan.
The application period will open Summer 2026.
Additional details will be posted as they become available.
