China Power Battery Recycling Guidelines Target 50 Standards

China Drafts New Power Battery Recycling Standards Framework

China Power Battery Recycling Guidelines propose a comprehensive standards framework covering the power battery recycling industry from collection through processing and product utilization. On September 15, 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a draft of the Guidelines for the Development of the Power Battery Recycling Industry Standards System (Edition 2026) for public comment. The consultation period runs from September 16 through October 15, 2026. The proposal focuses on establishing standards across the industry chain and product life cycle while supporting more efficient recovery and use of resources from used power batteries.

Why Power Battery Recycling Matters

Power batteries are rechargeable batteries that supply energy to power systems used by New Energy Vehicles, electric bicycles, and other applications. These batteries contain strategic resources including nickel, cobalt, and lithium, making their recovery relevant to resource management and supply security. According to the draft, recycling and reuse can reduce reliance on imported resources and strengthen national mineral resource supply security. The proposed standards framework therefore addresses not only waste handling but also the broader recovery and utilization of materials throughout the battery life cycle in China.

Six Areas Will Cover the Recycling Industry Chain

The draft calls for an industry-wide standards system covering used power battery collection, storage, transportation, processing, and comprehensive utilization. Its proposed framework is divided into six areas that address different stages and requirements within the recycling chain. These areas are intended to provide a structured basis for developing standards across the full life cycle of power battery products. The approach also connects recycling operations with green and low-carbon requirements, creating a framework that extends beyond individual processing activities and addresses the wider resource utilization system.

Draft Targets More Than 50 National Standards by 2030

The Guidelines set a target of developing or revising more than 50 national standards by 2030. The target is part of a broader objective to establish a standards system that covers the entire power battery recycling industry chain and the full product life cycle. The proposed framework is also intended to gradually support a system that promotes efficient resource utilization and aligns domestic standards with international standards. If implemented as proposed, the framework would provide a more comprehensive standards structure for recycling activities and the management of recovered battery resources in China.

Public Comment Period and Next Steps

The draft was issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on September 15, 2026, with public comments scheduled from September 16 to October 15. The consultation period provides an opportunity for relevant stakeholders to review the proposed standards framework before further development. The next stages will depend on the outcome of the public consultation and subsequent standards work. The draft's stated 2030 target provides a longer-term direction for developing or revising national standards across collection, processing, utilization, and environmental requirements for power battery recycling.

Industry Impact & Outlook

The proposed framework could give power battery recyclers and other participants a more structured basis for handling used batteries, recovering strategic materials, and developing comprehensive utilization processes. Its six-part structure also indicates that the standards effort is intended to address the recycling chain as an integrated system rather than through isolated requirements. For the automotive and battery industries, the development is particularly relevant because power batteries are a source of nickel, cobalt, and lithium that can be recovered for resource utilization. The emphasis on full life-cycle coverage and alignment with international standards could also shape how recycling practices develop as China works toward its 2030 standards target.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are China’s new power battery recycling guidelines designed to achieve?
The guidelines are designed to establish a comprehensive standards system covering power battery recycling across the full industry chain and product life cycle. The framework addresses collection, classification, physical processing, chemical processing, comprehensive utilization products, and green and low-carbon requirements. The draft also seeks to promote efficient resource utilization and gradually align domestic standards with international standards. These measures are intended to support more systematic recycling and reuse of batteries containing strategic resources such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium while strengthening resource supply security.

What is China’s power battery recycling standards target for 2030?
China’s draft guidelines set a target of developing or revising more than 50 national standards by 2030. The stated objective is to establish a standards system that covers the entire power battery recycling industry chain and the full product life cycle. The proposed system includes standards for collection and classification, physical and chemical processing, comprehensive utilization products, and green and low-carbon requirements. The draft was issued for public comment on September 15, 2026, with the consultation period running from September 16 through October 15, 2026.