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Every battery is an urban mine

Recycling, repair and second life for lithium batteries and solar panels

copper aluminum lithium nickel cobalt graphite

EcoBaterías tests, repairs, refurbishes and reuses lithium batteries and solar panels, and manages the recycling of whatever can no longer be used, with pickup anywhere in Chile. Lithium battery recycling, managed with authorized receiving facilities, costs 22 UF per tonne + VAT (19%).

Get a quote for my batteries or panels See all services

+56 9 8761 6071 · WhatsApp (opens in a new tab) · We reply within 48 business hours

22% lower cost with recycled cobalt sulfate than with the imported one at the Hydrometallurgy Plant of Codelco El Teniente (El Rancagüino, 2024-07-15) (opens in a new tab). The article does not name the supplier.
4 routes reuse · repair or refurbish · second life · recycle (how we choose each one)
All of Chile pickup coordinated with licensed hazardous-waste carriers (how it works)
Prismatic lithium-ion battery cells on a pallet
Lithium-ion batteries
Cobalt sulfate heptahydrate crystals recovered at the Lampa plant, operated by EcoMinería (Ecoprojects)
Cobalt sulfate recovered in Lampa (EcoMinería)
Dispatch of recovered material to a mining client
Dispatch to mining from Lampa (EcoMinería)
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Pickup, documents and validation

  • Pickup coordinated across Chile with licensed hazardous-waste carriers
  • Technical testing report for every batch; the valorization certificate for your EPR report is issued by the authorized receiving facility
  • Published market evidence: recycled cobalt sulfate tested at Codelco El Teniente read the El Teniente evidence
  • Lampa plant operated by EcoMinería (Ecoprojects), a founding partner of EcoBaterías, under a 2020 health permit issued in its name by the Seremi de Salud (Chile’s regional health authority) of the Santiago Metropolitan Region; the new plant is under review

EcoBaterías handles lithium-ion batteries and solar panels anywhere in Chile: it tests them first and, depending on the result, repairs them, refurbishes them, gives them a second life or manages their recycling with authorized receiving facilities, which issue the valorization certificate under Chile’s Extended Producer Responsibility law (Ley REP, Law No. 20,920). Recycling lithium-ion batteries, managed with authorized receiving facilities, costs 22 UF per tonne + VAT (19%), and we coordinate pickup with licensed hazardous-waste carriers.

UF is Chile’s inflation-indexed unit of account, published daily by the Central Bank.

Product lines
Lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic solar panels; lead-acid and other chemistries are quoted separately
Services
Testing, repair, refurbishment, second life, recycling, collection and transport, and solar plant repowering
Battery recycling price
22 UF per tonne + VAT, managed with authorized receiving facilities; other services are quoted per batch
Pickup
Coordinated with licensed hazardous-waste carriers, in every region
Documents
Test report and state-of-health (SOH) certificate; the valorization certificate for every batch is issued by the authorized receiving facility
Clients
Companies, institutions and individuals
Reply time
48 business hours
  • 1,100 tof lithium-ion battery waste estimated for 2026 in Chile
  • ≈0%of lithium-ion batteries are recycled in Chile today: that is the gap
  • ≈1.0 million tof photovoltaic modules installed in Chile will reach the end of their service life
  • 22%lower cost with recycled cobalt sulfate than with the imported one at the Hydrometallurgy Plant of Codelco El Teniente

Sources: regulatory impact assessment of the draft battery decree, Ministry of the Environment (Res. Ex. 821/2026) (opens in a new tab) for the waste and recycling figures · EcoBaterías Solar Observatory, data cut-off 2026-09-11, for the modules · El Rancagüino, 2024-07-15 (opens in a new tab) for El Teniente

Services

What services do we offer for lithium batteries and solar panels?

Each line has five services, from testing to recycling. All of them are available and quoted per batch. Collection and transport cover both lines; repowering covers solar plants.

Lithium battery testing

We read the BMS, the electronics that monitor and protect the cells, and measure insulation, capacity and internal resistance. You get a state-of-health (SOH) certificate: current capacity as a percentage of the original.

See lithium battery testing

Solar panel testing

Electroluminescence (EL), an image of the energized module taken in the dark that shows cracked or inactive cells; the I-V curve, which gives the real power output; thermography and insulation. One report per module, on site or in the lab.

See solar panel testing

Lithium battery repair

BMS replacement or reprogramming, weak cell and module replacement, balancing, contactors and connectors, tested before and after. For e-bikes, scooters, power tools, electric vehicles and BESS (battery energy storage systems).

See lithium battery repair

Solar panel repair

Junction boxes, bypass diodes, connectors, cables and frames, tested before and after. Broken glass cannot be fixed, and we do not repair inverters.

See solar panel repair

Battery pack refurbishment

We take the pack apart, measure every cell or module, replace the weak ones, balance it and run a capacity test before it goes back to the same use. Applies from 80% SOH.

See lithium battery refurbishment

Refurbished solar panels

We sell used modules with measured power, an EL image and an insulation test, and we refurbish the panels removed from your plant or roof and return them graded.

See refurbished solar panels

Second-life batteries

Car, bus or BESS modules with 65% to 80% SOH are repurposed, for example as stationary storage, with serial-number traceability.

See second-life batteries

Reuse of decommissioned panels

Do you have a batch of decommissioned panels? We test them module by module and decide which are reused and which are recycled. Every module keeps its brand, model and nameplate.

See solar panel reuse

Lithium battery recycling

We coordinate pickup with licensed hazardous-waste carriers and manage the recycling of lithium-ion batteries from companies and institutions with authorized receiving facilities. Recycling costs 22 UF per tonne + VAT; the valorization certificate is issued by the authorized receiving facility.

See lithium battery recycling

Solar panel recycling

We coordinate pickup with licensed hazardous-waste carriers and manage, with authorized receiving facilities, the recycling of modules that no longer work, with a certificate for Supreme Decree (DS) 22/2025, the decree that sets EPR targets for portable batteries, electrical equipment and solar panels.

See solar panel recycling

Battery and solar panel collection

We coordinate pickup with licensed hazardous-waste carriers, from a box of power-tool batteries to pallets of panels from a solar plant. We tell you how to pack each batch based on its condition.

See collection and transport

Solar plant repowering

When a plant replaces its modules, we test them on site, separate the ones that can be reused or repaired and manage the recycling of the rest, with a report for every batch.

See solar plant repowering
See all services Request a test

How we decide

How we decide: test before recycling

Recycling is the last route, not the first. For batteries, the deciding figure is state of health (SOH): the capacity the battery delivers today as a percentage of what it had when new. For panels, it is the power measured on the I-V curve as a percentage of nameplate power, the rating the manufacturer prints on the module label.

Lithium-ion batteries. The route depends on the measured SOH and the physical condition of the pack:

A

Direct reuse

SOH of 90% or more and no faults: back to its use with a state-of-health certificate.

B

Repair or refurbishment

SOH of 80% or more: the weak module or component is replaced and the battery is tested again. See repair and refurbishment.

C

Second life

SOH between 65% and 80%: modules graded for stationary storage. See second life.

A battery that is swollen, leaking, has melted areas or heats up while switched off is not repaired. Neither is an over-discharged one: under the EU Batteries Regulation, even a minor over-discharge can form dendrites and end in an internal short circuit.

Sources: EcoBaterías test protocol, in-house thresholds and not a standard, 2026-09-18 · ETH Zürich, damaged batteries (opens in a new tab) · Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, Annex V (opens in a new tab)

Solar panels. The class depends on measured power and on the condition of the glass and the insulation:

Route of a solar panel by its measured power, as a percentage of nameplate power
Test resultClassRoute
85% of nameplate or moreP1Reuse or sale as a refurbished panel
Between 80% and 85% of nameplateP2Reuse or sale as a refurbished panel
Between 70% and 80% of nameplateP3Off-grid uses, subject to what the SEC (Chile’s electricity and fuels regulator) requires
Below 70% of nameplate, broken or cracked glassNo classRecycling with a certificate
Fault in the junction box, bypass diode, connector or cableRegraded after repairRepair and retest

Swipe to see the full table

Every module keeps its brand, model and nameplate. The SEC authorizes panels by brand and model based on new-product certificates, and prohibits installing modules with breaks or cracks; off-grid installations must also use authorized models. The installation declared to the SEC is defined by the licensed electrical installer: check with the SEC before connecting used panels.

Sources: EcoBaterías test protocol, in-house classes and not a standard, 2026-09-18 · SEC Res. Ex. 32,427/2020 (opens in a new tab) · SEC, RGR No. 02/2024 (opens in a new tab) · SEC, ITG RIC No. 9.1/2021 (opens in a new tab)

Revalorization: the name we use for giving value back to a battery or panel that is no longer in use, through repair, refurbishment, second life or recycling. The Chilean legal term is valorization (Law No. 20,920, art. 3 No. 30), which under that law covers preparation for reuse, recycling and energy recovery. More in revalorization and valorization. For batteries, the draft decree proposes that at least 30% of the lithium-ion target be met through preparation for reuse.

Sources: Law No. 20,920, Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional (opens in a new tab) · draft battery decree, Ministry of the Environment (Res. Ex. 821/2026) (opens in a new tab)

What we handle

Which batteries and panels do we handle, and which not?

We repair, refurbish and repurpose only lithium-ion batteries: LFP (lithium iron phosphate), NMC (nickel manganese cobalt), NCA (nickel cobalt aluminum), LCO (lithium cobalt oxide) and LTO (lithium titanate). Recycling at 22 UF per tonne + VAT also applies to lithium-ion only. For panels, we work with photovoltaic modules, the ones that generate electricity.

Which batteries and panels we handle and which services apply to each
What you haveDo we handle it?Possible services
Phones, laptops and other consumer electronics batteriesYesRecycling
Cordless power tools, e-bikes, scooters and electric motorcyclesYesTesting, repair, refurbishment and recycling
Electric car, bus and forklift packsYesTesting, repair, refurbishment, second life and recycling
BESS modules and racksYesTesting, repair, refurbishment, second life and recycling
Swollen, leaking, burned or over-discharged batteriesYes, for recycling onlyRecycling, with packaging for damaged batteries
Lead-acid, NiMH and other chemistriesQuoted separatelyNot repaired or refurbished
Photovoltaic solar panelsYesTesting, repair, refurbishment, reuse and recycling
Panels with broken glassYes, for recycling onlyNot repaired or sold
Inverters and solar thermal collectorsWe do not repair themOutside our technical service

Swipe to see the full table

Regulatory note: DS 22/2025 covers portable batteries and leaves out batteries of 5 kg or more and lead-acid batteries. The draft of a separate battery decree, still in preparation, proposes to cover batteries of 5 kg or more and all lead-acid batteries, regardless of weight. If you only have a few units, see where to recycle lithium batteries in Chile.

Sources: final proposal of DS 22/2025, Ministry of the Environment (Res. Ex. 3413/2025) (opens in a new tab) · draft battery decree, Ministry of the Environment (Res. Ex. 821/2026), art. 2 No. 1 (opens in a new tab) · EcoBaterías service scope as of 2026-09-26

Sectors

Who do we work with?

Companies that generate end-of-life batteries or panels, producers that must comply with the EPR law and individuals with a battery that has failed.

Mining

Batteries from forklifts, equipment, backup power systems (UPS) and BESS at mine sites, and panels from on-site solar plants: testing, coordinated pickup and a technical report. On the mineral side, a recycled cobalt sulfate was successfully tested at the Hydrometallurgy Plant of Codelco El Teniente, according to the press: see the published evidence.

Power producers and BESS

The EcoBaterías Solar Observatory counts 756 photovoltaic plants in operation, and Chile had 8,786 MWh of battery storage operating in May 2026, according to the CNE, Chile’s National Energy Commission. See solar plant repowering and end-of-life BESS.

Public transport

More than 4,000 electric buses run in Santiago (February 2026). We test their packs module by module, refurbish the ones that keep their capacity and manage the end of life of the rest. See electric bus batteries.

Solar O&M

Operations and maintenance teams that need thermography, electroluminescence and I-V curves for a warranty or insurance claim, or need junction boxes and diodes repaired. See testing and panel repair.

Sources: EcoBaterías Solar Observatory, data cut-off 2026-09-11 · CNE, via Reporte Minero, May 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Reporte Minero, February 2026 (opens in a new tab) · DS 22/2025, summary by Carey (opens in a new tab)

Coverage

Do you collect batteries and panels outside Santiago?

Yes. We coordinate pickup with licensed hazardous-waste carriers in every region, from Arica y Parinacota to Magallanes. The battery recycling price is the same across Chile; freight and the pickup date are confirmed in the quote.

  1. Request a quote Tell us whether it is batteries or panels, the chemistry or technology if you know it, kilograms or units, condition and location. We reply within 48 business hours.
  2. Prepare the batch We tell you how to pack it based on its condition: intact batteries travel under UN special provision 377 with packing instruction P909; damaged ones under special provision 376 with P908, one battery per inner packaging, or P911 if they could react dangerously.
  3. Issue the documents Your company issues the dispatch note with the UN number of the load (UN 3480 for loose lithium-ion batteries, class 9, miscellaneous dangerous goods) and declares the shipment in SIDREP, Chile’s national hazardous-waste declaration and tracking system, run by the Ministry of Health.
  4. Pickup We coordinate pickup with licensed hazardous-waste carriers. Undamaged panels that have not been declared waste can travel as regular freight.
  5. Valorization certificate The authorized receiving facility closes the SIDREP record on receipt of the batch and issues the valorization certificate.

Packaging, labeling and document details are in battery and solar panel collection and transport, and step-by-step preparation in how to prepare lithium batteries for recycling.

Sources: Supreme Decree (DS) 148/2003, hazardous waste (opens in a new tab) · DS 298/1994, transport of dangerous goods (opens in a new tab) · RID 2025, harmonized with the UN Model Regulations (opens in a new tab) · SIDREP, Ministry of Health (opens in a new tab)

Published evidence

What did the recycled cobalt sulfate trial at El Teniente show?

The liquid performed better, the effect is much faster and it is cheaper.

— Patricio Navarro, shift supervisor at the Hydrometallurgy Plant of Codelco El Teniente

A recycled cobalt sulfate was successfully tested at the Hydrometallurgy Plant of Codelco El Teniente (trials from November 2023; results published in July 2024): 22% lower cost, 40% lower consumption and a single daily addition instead of three.

Source: El Rancagüino, “El Teniente successfully tests recycled cobalt sulfate” (opens in a new tab) · 2024-07-15. The article does not name the supplier.

EcoBaterías’ hydrometallurgical process comes from EcoMinería (Ecoprojects), a founding partner, which ran it at its Lampa plant (Santiago Metropolitan Region) under a 2020 health permit issued in its name. The new plant is under review by the Seremi de Salud RM. Learn about the process EcoMinería ran in Lampa, who we are, the investor panel and the advantage of valorizing inside Chile under the Basel Convention.

See the full evidence Read the El Teniente article
Lampa hydrometallurgical plant, operated by EcoMinería (Ecoprojects)
The hydrometallurgy that turned black mass, the powder left after shredding the cells, into cobalt sulfate at the Lampa plant.

Plant footage

Lithium-ion battery recycling, on video

The Ruta Verde (Mega) television report on the Lampa plant, operated by EcoMinería (Ecoprojects), a founding partner of EcoBaterías, and, below, the three-minute overview of the process: how end-of-life batteries were turned into minerals for industry.

Report by Ruta Verde, Mega · 9 min 31 s · 2024-03-16 · in Spanish.

Video by Álvaro Cruz Aninat · 3 min 17 s.

Safe discharge and dismantling Black mass Hydrometallurgy Cobalt and nickel sulfate

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about lithium batteries and solar panels

Short answers to what companies and individuals ask us most. Each one links to the service page.

How much does lithium battery recycling cost?
Recycling lithium-ion batteries, managed with authorized receiving facilities, costs 22 UF per tonne + VAT (19%), calculated with the UF value on the invoice date. Pickup, transport and packaging are quoted separately, based on distance, weight, number of packages and battery condition. Every batch receives the valorization certificate from the authorized receiving facility. Details are in lithium battery recycling for companies.

Can a lithium battery be repaired?
Yes, if the fault is specific: the BMS, a weak cell or module, an imbalance, a contactor or a connector. We repair lithium-ion batteries from e-bikes, scooters, power tools, electric vehicles and BESS, with a test before and after. A battery that is swollen, leaking, thermally damaged or over-discharged is not repaired: it goes to recycling. We do not repair NiMH or lead-acid batteries either.

What is the difference between repairing, refurbishing and giving a battery a second life?
Repair fixes a specific fault and returns the battery to the same use. Refurbishment means taking the pack apart, testing all its cells or modules, replacing the weak ones and running a capacity test before it returns to the same use. Second life means using the modules in a different application, such as stationary storage. The measured state of health (SOH) decides which one makes sense.

Can a solar panel be repaired?
Yes, when the fault is outside the laminate: junction box, bypass diodes, connectors, cables or frame. We test every module before and after with insulation, I-V curve and electroluminescence. Broken glass, delamination that reaches the edge and burned cells cannot be fixed, and those modules go to recycling. We do not repair inverters. More in solar panel repair.

What should I do with used or decommissioned solar panels?
Do not simply stockpile them: according to Chile’s Ministry of Energy, an end-of-life panel is handled as hazardous waste unless it is declassified. We test them module by module or by sampling, reuse or sell the suitable ones as refurbished panels with their measured power, and manage the recycling of the rest with a certificate under Supreme Decree (DS) 22/2025. In a repowering project, testing is done at the plant.

What happens to the batteries and panels that go to recycling?
We manage its valorization with authorized receiving facilities, in Chile or in OECD countries where applicable; the authorized receiving facility closes the SIDREP declaration and issues the valorization certificate. In the industry, lithium cells are shredded and hydrometallurgy recovers nickel, cobalt and lithium from the black mass, the powder left after shredding, as in the process EcoMinería ran in Lampa. Panels have their frame, junction box and cables removed before the glass is separated.

Do you collect batteries and panels outside Santiago?
Yes. We coordinate pickup with licensed hazardous-waste carriers in every region of Chile, from a box of power-tool batteries to pallets of panels from a solar plant. We tell you how to pack each batch based on its condition. The battery recycling price is the same across the country; freight and the pickup date are confirmed in the quote.

I am a producer or importer. How do I comply with Chile’s EPR law?
Chile’s Extended Producer Responsibility law (Ley REP, Law No. 20,920) is in force. Portable batteries, electrical equipment and photovoltaic modules are covered by Supreme Decree (DS) 22/2025, published on 2026-05-07, with targets enforceable from May 2028. Under the draft, batteries of 5 kg or more and all lead-acid batteries will be covered by a separate battery decree, still being drafted: the Ministry of the Environment has until 2027-01-29. The authorized receiving facility issues the valorization certificate for your declaration.
See all frequently asked questions Open the technical glossary

Sources

Sources for the data on this page

Tell us what you have and we will tell you which route makes sense

A failed battery, a batch of panels or a whole plant: send us the type, quantity, condition and location. We reply with the recommended route, the price and the pickup plan.

  • Reply within 48 business hours
  • Pickup coordinated with licensed hazardous-waste carriers across Chile
  • Technical report for every batch
  • In-house testing lab for batteries and panels
Get a quote for my batteries or panels contacto@ecobaterias.org

Updated October 9, 2026 · Reviewed by the EcoBaterías technical team.