Lithium Battery Initiative to Make Recycling Easier and Safer for Nevadans

University of Nevada, Reno – December 4, 2025

Redwood Materials, in partnership with Nevada Tech Hub and Washoe County, to deploy 20 smart battery recycling bins across Nevada.

RENO, Nev. — In a partnership between industry, government and higher education, a new lithium recycling program will provide convenient locations for Nevada residents to recycle everyday household items containing lithium batteries. Redwood Materials, Washoe County, and Nevada Tech Hub are partnering to launch a statewide battery recycling initiative, deploying 20 smart receptacles providing residents with easily accessible options for recycling used batteries. The program encourages the public to recycle everyday items containing lithium batteries with the goal of preventing them from going to landfills, reducing fire risks and repurposing precious critical materials. The program is set to launch in early 2026.

“Across the country, access to safe and convenient lithium battery recycling remains limited. With these batteries now found in so many everyday household items, our team knew a solution was needed,” Tricia Dutcher, external affairs program manager at Redwood Materials, said. “This project not only helps educate the public on proper recycling but also introduces the bins that make the process safe, simple and accessible. By encouraging more recycling, we can keep these potentially dangerous and toxic materials out of landfills while strengthening the domestic supply chain through the recovery of critical minerals.”

The Redwood Materials team engineered and patented smart receptacles that include temperature monitoring, fire suppressant fillers which dispense between drops to encase each battery, and sensors to ensure safety. Batteries do not need to be bagged or packaged, another common barrier to recycling. In Northern Nevada, up to 10 of the receptacles will be placed in Washoe County public buildings. The remaining bins will be distributed across the state in high-traffic locations for easy and convenient drop off. Exact locations will be announced in the coming weeks.

Nevada Tech Hub awarded $450,000 to Redwood Materials for the project implementation, funding bin construction and placement, as well as providing staff time and resources. In addition to hosting several bins, Washoe County is providing marketing support and public education on proper recycling.

“These smart bins are another major step toward building a more sustainable ecosystem here in Nevada,” Brian Beffort, sustainability manager for Washoe County, said. “By simplifying the process and removing common barriers to recycling, we’re making it easier for residents to be part of the clean energy solution. The hope is this program creates lasting benefits and can serve as a model to be scaled at a national level.”

The Nevada Tech Hub, designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, continues to identify and facilitate partnerships that accelerate innovation in lithium battery development, critical minerals and building a domestic supply chain. Business owners who are interested in hosting a recycling receptacle should reach out via email to  techhub@unr.edu.

For more information on Nevada Tech Hub, visit unr.edu/tech-hub. For more information on Redwood Materials, visit redwoodmaterials.com. For more information on Washoe County’s sustainability programs, visit washoecounty.gov/sustainability.

– @unevadareno –

The University of Nevada, Reno is a public research university that is committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. As a Nevada land-grant university founded in 1874, the University serves 21,000 students. The University is a comprehensive, doctoral university, classified as an R1 institution with very high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Additionally, it has attained the prestigious “Carnegie Engaged” classification, reflecting its student and institutional impact on civic engagement and service, fostered by extensive community and statewide collaborations. More than $800 million in advanced labs, residence halls and facilities has been invested on campus since 2009. It is home to the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and Wolf Pack Athletics, maintains a statewide outreach mission and presence through programs such as the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Small Business Development Center, Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Through a commitment to world-improving research, student success and outreach benefiting the communities and businesses of Nevada, the University has impact across the state and around the world. For more information, visit www.unr.edu.

About Nevada Tech Hub

Nevada Tech Hub is a consortium of governmental, industry, educational, and nonprofit organizations all aligning toward a common goal: to leverage Nevada’s rich natural resources and develop a full-spectrum lithium economy within the state. The Nevada Tech Hub is one of 31 Tech Hub designees nationally. The program invests in regional partnerships to grow critical industries, strengthen national security, and create high-quality jobs. Nevada Tech Hub is focused on building a complete “Lithium Loop” – a closed-loop lithium economy that includes extraction, processing, battery manufacturing, and recycling. Nevada Tech Hub is working to make Nevada a global leader in critical minerals and electric vehicle materials. By using the state’s natural resources, supporting innovation, and bringing people and organizations together, the effort supports both national strength and a sustainable future. For more information, visit www.unr.edu/tech-hub.

About Redwood Materials

Redwood Materials is building the U.S. stockpile of critical materials and deploying large-scale energy storage. Founded by JB Straubel, the company produces lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, and cathode active material at scale in the U.S., manufactures key components for advanced batteries, and deploys energy storage systems that power data centers and the nation’s grid. Redwood is expanding domestic capacity for next-generation energy storage and strengthening U.S. energy dominance. For more information, visit:  www.redwoodmaterials.com.