Altilium announced on September 21, 2026, that the Environment Agency had granted a bespoke environmental permit for its ACT 2 facility in Plymouth. According to the company, it is the first UK permit covering hydrometallurgical recovery of electric vehicle battery black mass at this scale.
The permit establishes the regulatory framework for Altilium to operate its EcoCathode and EcoAnode hydrometallurgical processes at the facility. ACT 2 is designed to process black mass equivalent to approximately one EV battery per day and recover materials through to anode active material and cathode active material.
Altilium said the permitting process involved more than two years of regulatory assessment and technical engagement. The work included developing an applicable regulatory framework and demonstrating that the facility and its processes complied with environmental requirements.
Before receiving the full environmental permit, ACT 2 operated under a Local Enforcement Position. This arrangement provided a period of controlled operation and regulatory oversight while Altilium progressed through the full permitting process.
The company said the permit supports its plans to recover critical battery materials domestically and return them to the UK battery supply chain. It also provides part of the industrial, regulatory and technical foundation needed to develop a circular battery economy in the country.
According to Altilium, battery black mass generated in the UK is currently exported for further processing. As a result, critical minerals and the associated economic value leave the country before processed materials are imported back into the battery supply chain.
Source: altilium.tech
