The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced $14 million to increase consumer battery recycling and create a more sustainable domestic battery supply chain. Supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and managed by DOE’s Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains Office (MESC), the selected projects will provide more than 1,000 collection points across the country for spent batteries from consumer products.

Recycling spent batteries provides domestic industry with additional sources of necessary materials to make new batteries or other products, and retailers can play a vital role in making recycling accessible and easy for consumers, DOE said.

Consumer products including rechargeable batteries, cell phones, laptops, vacuums, and smartwatches contain critical minerals and materials such as nickel, lithium, and graphite that can be reused across the clean energy sector. Once batteries are no longer usable, consumers need places to deposit their spent batteries.

Staples US Retail, and battery retailer Batteries Plus, were selected to receive more than $7 million each to install portable consumer battery recycling drop-offs at their stores. The two companies will create more than 1,000 new drop-off locations across the US, many that will be located in disadvantaged communities.

Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and the applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time.