Ecobat to continue operating its lead-acid battery recycling facility in California with renewed permit
The facility ensures spent batteries are recycled responsibly in the U.S. instead of exporting the material to countries with weaker protection standards
On November 21, 2025, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) granted a 10-year renewal of the Final Operating Hazardous Waste Permit for Ecobat's City of Industry (COI) lead battery recycling facility. The facility ensures that spent batteries generated in the State are responsibly recycled in the United States rather than exported to countries with weaker worker protections and environmental standards.
The COI plant is the only facility west of the Rocky Mountains permitted to recycle spent lead-acid batteries. With near-zero emissions enabled by advanced, proprietary process controls and patented wet electrostatic precipitator (WESP) technology, COI is recognized as the safest, cleanest, and most highly-regulated plant of its kind in the world.
Current issues recycling lead-acid batteries
Today, an estimated 60,000-70,000 tons of batteries are illegally exported each year to non-OECD countries such as Nigeria, South Korea, and Mexico, where substandard recycling practices can harm workers, communities, and the environment. California's rigorous decision, based on years of technical data and scientific studies, helps ensure that even more batteries stay within a proven regulatory system. The recent U.S. designation of lead as a critical mineral strengthens the case for improving domestic recycling capacity and curbing illegal exports that undermine environmental justice and global sustainability.
Rebuilding COI today would require more than $500 million in investment, underscoring the strategic importance of preserving and expanding this existing facility. Ecobat is evaluating opportunities to increase capacity across its three North American plants and anticipates future government support aligned with critical-mineral priorities and secure circular-economy supply chains.
Tom Slabe, president and CEO of Ecobat, said: "This renewal would not be possible without the outstanding people who work at City of Industry every day. Our employees — and generations of skilled Teamsters union members — have built a culture of operational excellence that is unmatched in our industry. We are deeply proud of them and grateful for their commitment to safety, the environment, and the communities we serve."
With this renewed authorization, Ecobat looks forward to continuing its leadership in safe hazardous-waste management, community protection, and the secure domestic recovery of essential battery materials.
