01902 287561

SECTORS

Portables

From smartphones to vapes, portable devices are essential to modern life — yet they represent one of the UK’s fastest-growing and highest-risk waste streams.

Recyclus provides the industrial-scale, environmentally responsible, and fully compliant recycling infrastructure needed to process these devices safely and sustainably.

Powering the UK’s Digital World — with Safe, Responsible End-of-Life Management

The UK consumes millions of portable electronic devices every year — from smartphones and laptops to wearables, vapes, tablets, cameras, consoles and power banks. These products rely on small-format lithium-ion batteries, which are becoming one of the fastest-growing sources of hazardous WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment).

As volumes increase, so do safety, compliance and sustainability challenges:

  • Portable-device batteries are now a leading cause of fires in recycling centres and waste-transfer stations.

  • Improper disposal of mobiles, laptops and vapes contributes to the UK’s growing WEEE backlog.

  • Retailers, distributors and manufacturers face stricter obligations around take-back schemes and end-of-life management.

  • UK recycling infrastructure must scale rapidly to avoid exporting hazardous waste overseas.

Recyclus Group delivers a complete, UK-based solution for the safe collection, handling, recycling and recovery of portable lithium-ion batteries and electronic devices.

Our Portables & WEEE Services

Here’s how we support you end-to-end:

Safe Collection, Storage & Transport

We provide fully compliant collection and logistics for small-format lithium-ion batteries and WEEE products, including:

  • Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and wearables

  • Games consoles and handheld gaming devices

  • Vapes and disposable e-cigarettes

  • Power banks and portable charging devices

  • Cameras, headphones, speakers, and accessories

  • Small WEEE containing embedded lithium-ion cells

Our service includes:

  • ADR-compliant transport for damaged, swollen, or high-risk batteries

  • Our fire-safe, UNP911- certified “LiBox” containers for temporary on-site storage, meeting Packing Group I and ADR P911 regulations

  • Bulk-collection solutions for high-volume clients (retail chains, distributors, reverse logistics)

  • Full chain-of-custody tracking for audit and compliance

Recyclus ensures safe movement of portable batteries from collection point to recycling facility.

Assessment & Pre-Treatment

Our facility specialises in:

  • Sorting by chemistry, size, and hazard level

  • Deactivation and neutralisation of swollen, punctured, or leaking batteries

  • Bulk handling of mixed WEEE streams

  • Identification and management of counterfeit or unregulated device batteries

These controlled processes prevent accidental damage and eliminate fire risk during pre-treatment.

End-of-Life Recycling & Material Recovery

Recyclus operates one of the UK’s first industrial-scale lithium-ion recycling plants, processing portable battery streams including:

  • Mobile phone batteries

  • Laptop and tablet cells

  • Vape batteries and small cylindrical cells

  • Smartwatch and wearable batteries

  • VR devices and handheld consoles

  • Power banks and backup units

Through shredding and advanced material separation, we recover:

  • Black mass containing lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese

  • Copper and aluminium

  • Plastics

  • Rare and critical minerals contributing to circular supply chains

Full documentation, certificates of destruction and environmental reports are provided.

Fire Risk Management & Safety Consultancy

Lithium-ion batteries in WEEE are a primary cause of waste-site fires across the UK.

Recyclus helps mitigate these risks by supporting:

  • Retail and warehouse storage protocols

  • Safe counterfeit/defective device handling

  • Training for waste operators and logistics teams

  • Emergency procedures for thermal-runaway incidents

  • Regulatory compliance for WEEE collection and segregation

This is especially valuable for retailers, waste contractors, councils, logistics depots, and recyclers.

How It Works

Portables Process Flow

1. Arrange Collection

Arrange Collection

Arrange collection or deliver to our facility: we handle paperwork, transport, or receipt.

2. Initial Inspection

Initial Inspection

Initial inspection: assessment of battery pack condition (normal end-of-life, damaged, fire-affected).

3. Containment

Containment

Containment (if required): damaged/dangerous packs are placed in our specialised containment (LiBox) and stored in controlled conditions.

4. Safe Dismantling

Safe Dismantling

Safe dismantling: high-voltage team executes controlled dismantling and pre-treatment in line with safety standards.

5. Recycling & Recovery

Recycling & Recovery

Recycling & recovery: shredded, separated, and processed into black mass and other recoverable materials.

6. Certifications & Reporting

Certifications & Reporting

Certifications & reporting: full traceability provided, including certificates of destruction, material recovered, and environmental impact metrics.

5. Recycling & Recovery

Recycling & Recovery

Recycling & recovery: shredded, separated, and processed into black mass and other recoverable materials.

6. Certifications & Reporting

Certifications & Reporting

Certifications & reporting: full traceability provided, including certificates of destruction, material recovered, and environmental impact metrics.

Strategic Benefits for Portables & WEEE Partners

Fire Risk Reduction

Fire-risk reduction, especially in retail backrooms, waste sites and distribution centres

Full WEEE Compliance

Full WEEE compliance with UK waste regulations and take-back obligations

High Volume Processing

High volume processing of portable batteries and embedded-device cells

Domestic Recycling

Domestic recycling, reducing reliance on overseas waste-export routes

Secure & Confidential Battery Handling for Sensitive Products

Recyclus provides specialised handling for confidential waste streams and next-generation product trials, ensuring security, discretion and full compliance at every stage.

Our facility is equipped to process:

  • Batteries from confiscated or restricted items, received through approved waste partners

  • Prototype, pre-production and next-generation devices from automotive, robotics, electronics and industrial sectors

  • Development batteries used in R&D labs, engineering teams and controlled testing programmes

  • Sensitive equipment requiring secure destruction, full audit trails and verified recycling outcomes

All confidential materials are managed under secure processes with:

  • Controlled access zones

  • Full chain-of-custody tracking

  • Secure destruction certificates

  • Non-disclosure aligned handling for sensitive technologies

This ensures high-risk or confidential battery waste — whether from law-enforcement seizures or cutting-edge engineering trials — is processed safely, discreetly and in full compliance with UK regulation.

Why Recyclus Group?

  • Proven capability with damaged, swollen and thermally stressed small cells.

 

  • We provide full traceability, environmental credentials, and alignment with the circular economy.

 

  • Trusted partner across commercial electronics, WEEE contractors, and public-sector waste systems.

    • We are the UK’s first industrial-scale lithium-ion battery recycler.

     

    • Our Wolverhampton facility is fully operational and processing large volumes of Li-ion batteries.

     

    • Extensive experience with WEEE battery processing.

    Find Your Bespoke Solution

    Call Us

    +44 (0) 1902 287561

    Email Us

    [email protected]

    HQ Address

    Lincoln Street,
    Wolverhampton,
    WV10 0DX