Turning Waste Into Watts: The Graphite Comeback

Talga and United Catalyst pursue graphite recovery to boost domestic supply resilience

28 Oct 2025

Talga and United Catalyst Corporation have agreed to explore graphite recycling in a move aimed at strengthening the U.S. battery material supply chain and reducing reliance on imports.

The partnership seeks to establish a potential network to recover graphite from used batteries, process it for reuse, and feed it back into domestic production. The approach would help mitigate supply risks as demand for electric vehicles and grid-storage systems accelerates.

Most graphite used in batteries is currently refined outside the United States, exposing manufacturers to supply volatility. Talga and United Catalyst said their collaboration would “turn waste into opportunity” by regenerating used graphite to lower costs, cut emissions, and improve energy resilience.

Under preliminary plans, the companies are considering pilot production in 2026, subject to further development. Talga would provide its proprietary graphite recovery technology, while United Catalyst would contribute processing capacity and recycling logistics across the U.S.

Although the agreement is non-binding, analysts say it aligns with incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act, which promotes domestic sourcing of critical minerals. “Localized materials now make strong economic sense,” said energy analyst Karen Lopez. “Each ton of recycled graphite produced in America means greater supply stability and progress toward sustainable electrification.”

Industry observers note that major challenges remain, including the creation of nationwide collection systems and the integration of recycled materials into existing battery manufacturing operations.

If successful, the Talga–United Catalyst initiative could signal a shift toward circular production models in the U.S. energy sector, positioning recycled graphite as a key element of a more secure and sustainable battery ecosystem.