Lithium Australia assesses potential fertiliser opportunity from recycled batteries

Lithium Australia NL (ASX:LIT) (FRA:3MW) is assessing the use of recycled battery components, including zinc and manganese, as micro-nutrient supplements in fertiliser.

Glasshouse testing of mixed metal dust (MMD) recovered from recycled alkaline batteries has been successfully completed.

The uptake of zinc and manganese is in line with expectations for oxide materials for a short duration glasshouse trial.*Recycling batteries*

Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin said: "Sustainable and ethical supply of critical materials is a global challenge.

"Recycling all the metals within spent batteries is something that's rarely done effectively, which is why it remains a target for the company.

"We have not limited ourselves to recycling only lithium-ion batteries but, rather, have included alkaline batteries in a bid to eliminate all such items from landfill."

Shares have been as much as 8% higher in early trade to 5.5 cents.