The rapid growth of the electric vehicle (EV) market presents significant waste management challenges, particularly for spent lithium-ion batteries. These batteries contain valuable strategic elements and critical materials, making them a potential secondary resource. The article outlines current approaches to EV battery recycling and highlights areas for future progress. It discusses the environmental and social impacts of battery production, the importance of accurate battery assessment and disassembly, and the challenges of automating disassembly processes. The article also reviews pyrometallurgical, physical, and hydrometallurgical recycling methods, emphasizing the need for direct recycling to recover sufficient value from cathode materials. Despite the potential benefits, obstacles such as contamination, material composition, and the rapid evolution of battery technologies remain significant hurdles.The rapid growth of the electric vehicle (EV) market presents significant waste management challenges, particularly for spent lithium-ion batteries. These batteries contain valuable strategic elements and critical materials, making them a potential secondary resource. The article outlines current approaches to EV battery recycling and highlights areas for future progress. It discusses the environmental and social impacts of battery production, the importance of accurate battery assessment and disassembly, and the challenges of automating disassembly processes. The article also reviews pyrometallurgical, physical, and hydrometallurgical recycling methods, emphasizing the need for direct recycling to recover sufficient value from cathode materials. Despite the potential benefits, obstacles such as contamination, material composition, and the rapid evolution of battery technologies remain significant hurdles.