Survey on actions and willingness towards the disposal, collection, and recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries in Malaysia

The quantity of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is expected to increase as its usage grows globally. In Malaysia, the biggest contributors to spent LIBs are consumer electronics (CEs), which if not properly managed, can jeopardize both the environment and human health. Additionally, the supply of raw materials for LIBs are limited. The risks to the supply chain for LIBs can be mitigated through recycling and reuse, which calls for the need of a robust circular economy model. Currently, there is a lack of local research on spent LIBs and to address this gap, the present study surveyed the actions and willingness of the public towards the disposal, collection, and recycling of LIBs, through the scope of CEs, as electric vehicles (EVs) currently does not dominate the LIB market in Malaysia. A national online survey via convenient sampling was carried out. It was found that a majority of respondents had never sent spent LIBs for recycling while 38.2% of the respondents disposed LIBs directly into the trash bin. The survey also determined that a huge number of the respondents were willing to recycle but lack knowledge and information on the disposal and recycling channels. On the other hand, 0.5% of the respondents was not motivated to recycle LIBs. Following that, relevant recommendations were set forth, revolving around three major categories – (1) laws, policies, and regulations, (2) infrastructures and technologies, and (3) education and awareness.