*Case Report* **Future Portable Li-Ion Cells' Recycling Challenges in Poland**

#### **Agnieszka Sobianowska-Turek \* and Weronika Urba ´nska**

Section of Waste Technology and Land Remediation, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Technology, 27 Wybrze ˙ze Wyspia ´nskiego St, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland; weronika.urbanska@pwr.edu.pl **\***Tel.:+48-663-104-614

 Correspondence: agnieszka.sobianowska-turek@pwr.edu.pl; 

Received: 7 November 2019; Accepted: 9 December 2019; Published: 12 December 2019

**Abstract:** The paper presents the market of portable lithium-ion batteries in the European Union (EU) with particular emphasis on the stream of used Li-ion cells in Poland by 2030. In addition, the article draws attention to the fact that, despite a decade of efforts in Poland, it has not been possible to create an effective managemen<sup>t</sup> system for waste batteries and accumulators that would include waste managemen<sup>t</sup> (collection and selective sorting), waste disposal (a properly selected mechanical method) and component recovery technology for reuse (pyrometallurgical and/or hydrometallurgical methods). This paper also brings attention to the fact that this EU country with 38 million people does not have in its area a recycling process for used cells of the first type of zinc-carbon, zinc-manganese or zinc-air, as well as the secondary type of nickel-hydride and lithium-ion, which in the stream of chemical waste energy sources will be growing from year to year.

**Keywords:** spent batteries and accumulators; Li-ion cells; legislation; recycling
