The rise of battery recycling as a strategic industry in Singapore

The accelerating adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and the global transition toward clean energy have placed battery recycling at the forefront of regulatory development. Singapore, in particular, has emerged as a regional leader in establishing a clear, supportive legal and industrial framework for EV battery recovery, recycling, and material circularity. 

This article summarises the evolving legal regime, the developing industry ecosystem, and the role of EV battery recycling as an essential service within Singapore's sustainability landscape.

Regulatory Framework Governing Battery Recycling

A key pillar of Singapore’s battery recycling regime is the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, introduced under the Resource Sustainability Act 2019 and the Resource Sustainability (E-waste Recyclers) Regulations 2021. Consumer and non-consumer electric vehicle batteries are categorised as regulated products under the regulations. 

The framework mandates producers of batteries to be responsible for the collection, recycling, and safe disposal of used batteries. Obligations include meeting specified collection targets, maintaining transparent reporting, and ensuring that recycling is undertaken only by licensed facilities.

The EPR system strengthens accountability while enabling a structured and scalable market for recycling operators.

The Electric Vehicles Charging Act 2022 and Technical Reference 25 (TR25) govern safe EV charging and infrastructure standards, indirectly enhancing battery lifecycle management by ensuring that batteries entering the recycling stream have been operated under regulated, safer conditions.

Singapore’s Growing Battery Recycling Ecosystem

The domestic industry has responded quickly to the anticipated surge in EV battery waste.

In 2023, it was reported that TES Singapore, one of the major recyclers, is constructing a new dedicated EV battery recycling plant equipped to discharge, dismantle, and process batteries via mechanical and chemical recycling. The plant will support up to 5,000 tonnes per year and is expected to start operations this year.

Se‑cure Waste Management is also expanding with plans for a new multi‑storey plant. Its existing facility already processes up to 3,600 tonnes per year of EV batteries, with feedstock currently imported from Europe and the US.

These expansions highlight Singapore’s role as a regional centre for end‑of‑life EV battery management, positioning it strongly within the global battery materials supply chain.

Alignment With National EV and Clean Energy Policies

Battery recycling is supported by Singapore’s broader EV regulatory architecture. 

The government continues to drive EV adoption through incentives such as the EV Early Adoption Incentive (EEAI) and maintaining VES Band A1 rebates for cleaner‑energy vehicles, with electric cars comprising roughly one-third of new registration between Jan–Aug 2024. Over time, this accelerating EV uptake will naturally lead to increased quantities of end‑of‑life batteries becoming available for recycling.

Battery Recycling as an Emerging Essential Service

Given the safety, environmental, and economic dimensions of EV battery handling, recycling activities increasingly function as an essential service in the clean‑energy ecosystem.

EV batteries pose unique fire and hazardous material risks. Singapore’s push for safer battery chemistries, such as research into sodium‑ion alternatives and improved battery management systems, further supports safe end‑of‑life handling. 

With Singapore targeting net-zero emissions by 2050, battery recycling supports national decarbonisation by enabling reuse of critical minerals, reducing landfill reliance, and lowering the embodied carbon of new EV batteries.

As Singapore prepares for large-scale EV adoption—aiming for all vehicles to run on cleaner energy by 2040—the recycling sector ensures that EVs remain environmentally sustainable across their full lifecycle, not just at the point of use.

Opportunities / Prospects for Battery Recycling 

The rapid growth in EV adoption, energy-storage deployment, and electrification of industrial equipment will translate into a rising wave of end-of-life batteries over the next decade. Singapore, with its recent developments in recycling capacity, capability and cross border logistics, is well positioned to serve as a trusted regional hub for battery circularity.

The next phase of opportunity lies not only in material recovery, but also in diagnostics, repurposing, safe transport, and lifecycle management. Second-life deployment in less demanding applications such as stationary storage from high demand application such as EV, can extract further value before final recycling, extending battery usefulness while reducing costs and the carbon footprint. Alongside massive opportunities, various challenges are surfacing, such as quality compliance, safety and the tricky IP concerns from manufacturers.

Having an established recycling infrastructure will grant access to recovered lithium, nickel, cobalt and graphite which strengthens the supply security for manufacturers. Singapore’s regulatory clarity, port connectivity and strong environmental governance, makes it well placed to be a major player in the closed loop battery value chain for the region and beyond. According to Andrew Tay, Director at electronic waste recycling company KGS, “Battery recycling is evolving from a waste-management activity into a strategic resources industry. The opportunity lies for those who can combine safety, compliance, and reliability into a circular ecosystem that customers can trust.”[1]

Battery Recycling Agreement

EV Battery Recycling contracts and agreements vary in complexity but will invariably specify the obligations and scope of services provided by the recycler in detail. These could include:

• criteria for receipt, inspection, and acceptance of batteries;

• safe storage of batteries at named facilities in compliance with technical, environmental, safety, and quality specifications;

• processing of batteries into recovered materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, copper in accordance with best practices;

• management of waste and residual materials derived from the processing in strict compliance with applicable law; and

• reporting on weight-in/weight-out, material recovery yields, environmental compliance, and battery data.

Critically, the battery supplier should also be bound to: 

• ensure that batteries supplied to recycler are properly classified, labelled, packaged, and documented, including any hazardous waste;

• provide available battery data (such as age, state of health, usage history and fault codes) to enable recycler to safely and effectively perform the recycling;

• notify the recycler of any known safety hazards, defects, or abnormal conditions; and

• comply with all applicable laws relating to the placement of the batteries on the market, product stewardship, EPR, and end-of-life obligations.

Conclusion

Singapore’s legal and industrial framework for EV battery recycling is robust, forward‑looking, and increasingly integrated with national sustainability goals. The combination of mandatory EPR regulation, expanding industrial recycling capacity, clear EV standards, and a strong R&D ecosystem positions battery recycling as a foundational pillar of Singapore’s clean‑energy strategy. As EV adoption accelerates, battery recycling will play a critical role as an essential service, ensuring safe waste management and resource recovery whilst supporting a resilient circular economy for the region.

This article is produced by our Singapore office, Bird & Bird ATMD LLP. It does not constitute legal advice and is intended to provide general information only. Information in this article is accurate as of 5 January 2026.