Battery recycling initiative in Penjwen stalled due to lack of facilities

SULAYMANIYAH – Efforts to collect used batteries in Sulaymaniyah’s Penjwen district have stalled over a year after the project’s launch, as the lack of a recycling facility leaves hazardous waste unprocessed.

“For over a year, we have been gathering batteries across the Penjwen District, providing specific containers and collection points,” Zana Rahman, head of the Penjwen City of Knowledge project, told 964media. “However, we still lack a recycling facility to process them.”

Rahman said the initiative has formally requested support from the Sulaymaniyah Provincial Government to establish specialized storage containers and develop a battery recycling facility, but approvals have yet to be granted.

Disposing of batteries in landfills is not a viable option, Rahman emphasized, due to their toxic contents. Proper recycling facilities are needed to safely process the waste and recover materials for potential reuse.

Launched as part of an environmental campaign, the battery collection project aims to prevent contamination of local ecosystems and encourage waste sorting. In the Kurdistan Region, residents typically dispose of all waste together, making organized recycling an unfamiliar practice. The project seeks to shift these habits and set a standard for sustainable practices in the region.

Used battery recycling methods, such as pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and direct recycling, recover valuable materials, reduce environmental harm, and lessen reliance on raw material mining. Direct recycling, which focuses on refurbishing active materials for reuse in new batteries, offers potential cost and energy efficiencies, though it remains in the developmental stage.