Principal Investigator Randolph Kirchain
Project Website http://ssrc.mit.edu/research/exploration-environmental-assessment-electrical-pr…
The Material Systems Laboratory’s (MSL) current research with the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and the California Integrated Waste Management Board uses network models and life cycle assessment to evaluate the economic and environmental impacts of battery recycling. The project is working to determine when in a process and under which conditions it makes the most sense to recycle.
This project examines all stages of the manufacturing process and uses network models and life cycle assessment to evaluate the economic and environmental impacts of battery recycling.
Every year some 250 million tons of waste are generated and 179,000 tons of batteries are discarded in U.S. landfills. MSL is performing a life–cycle assessment on work–flow, manufacturing, and performance.