On the ground, recyclers collecting lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries from Derichebourg have been noticing changes in pricing structures for several months. The cause is not solely linked to metal prices in the global market.
The European regulation 2023/1542 on batteries, with several obligations becoming mandatory starting in 2026, fundamentally alters the cost structure for recycling operators. Here, we break down the concrete mechanisms affecting the buyback price offered to individuals and professionals.
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European Regulation 2023/1542: What Changes for Recyclers in 2026
The European regulation 2023/1542 imposes minimum recovery rates for strategic materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel on recyclers. These thresholds will gradually increase, and 2026 marks a point where recycling performance requirements become truly operationally binding.
For a Derichebourg processing site, this means additional investments in sorting and fine chemistry equipment. Regulatory reporting also becomes more burdensome, with control of substances and traceability of each batch of batteries entering the site.
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The direct consequence: the buyback price now reflects the net cost of regulatory treatment, and not just the value of the contained metals. When bringing in a batch of used lithium-ion batteries, the proposed price includes this compliance cost. This represents a structural shift that previous pricing structures did not account for.
To better understand this evolution, professionals monitoring the buyback prices of Derichebourg batteries in 2026 note that the pricing mechanism has become more complex compared to previous years.
Lead-Acid and Lithium-Ion Batteries: Two Markets, Two Pricing Logics
There is a tendency to speak of “batteries” as a homogeneous block. In reality, the situation varies significantly depending on the chemistry involved.
Lead-Acid: A Mature Market Under Pressure
Lead-acid batteries (automotive, inverters, industrial equipment) still account for the bulk of the volume processed by French recyclers. The price of lead on the international market remains the main determinant of the buyback price. The new recycling performance obligations do not fundamentally disrupt the already well-established process for this type of chemistry.
However, the requirements for traceability and reporting add an administrative layer. The price per kilo offered to suppliers tends to stagnate despite relatively stable lead prices, because the recycler’s margin is shrinking due to compliance costs.
Lithium-Ion: The Chemistry Where Everything Happens
The lithium-ion segment (electric vehicles, scooters, portable tools) experiences the highest tensions. The hydrometallurgical processes necessary to recover lithium, cobalt, and nickel at rates compliant with European regulation are costly. Derichebourg Environnement has announced an investment of 35 million euros in its automotive battery recycling sector, highlighting the industrial effort required.
For the supplier, this results in highly variable buyback prices from one batch to another, depending on the exact chemical composition of the battery (NMC, LFP, NCA). Batteries rich in cobalt and nickel maintain a higher buyback value, while LFP chemistries, which are less rich in strategic metals, can generate a near-zero buyback price, or even a treatment cost charged to the supplier.
Formation of the Buyback Price: Variables Integrated by Derichebourg in 2026
Understanding why a recycler offers a specific price requires knowledge of the parameters involved in the calculation. Here are the main factors that determine the buyback price of batteries at an operator like Derichebourg:
- The price of recoverable metals (lead, lithium, cobalt, nickel) on international markets, which fluctuates daily and forms the basis for the material value calculation.
- The regulatory treatment cost imposed by regulation 2023/1542, including minimum recovery yields, control of hazardous substances, and mandatory reporting to European authorities.
- The exact chemistry of the battery brought in: an NMC battery containing cobalt does not have the same value as an LFP battery made of iron phosphate, and upstream sorting directly influences the price.
- The volumes and regularity of contributions: a professional delivering homogeneous and identified batches generally receives a better price than an occasional supplier with mixed batteries.
- Logistics and safety conditions: transporting damaged lithium-ion batteries incurs additional costs (ADR packaging, specific insurance) that are reflected in the proposed price.
Anticipating the Evolution of Battery Buyback Prices After 2026
The European regulation anticipates a further tightening of recovery rates beyond 2026. Recyclers who have not invested in efficient hydrometallurgical processing capabilities may see their margins further compressed, which could drive buyback prices down for certain chemistries.
Conversely, the growing demand for recycled metals could support prices in the segment of batteries rich in cobalt and nickel. Europe aims to reduce its dependence on imports of critical raw materials, and recyclers capable of supplying second-life lithium or cobalt to the new battery industry will have a competitive advantage.
The underlying trend remains clear: the value of a used battery depends less and less on the metal prices alone. It increasingly relies on the recycler’s ability to meet regulatory obligations while maintaining a profitable process.
The buyback price at Derichebourg in 2026 incorporates this dual constraint, and suppliers should verify the chemistry of their batteries before negotiating a price.