By The Craig Bushon Show Media Team
The recent announcement that American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) has partnered with Call2Recycle to expand consumer lithium-ion battery recycling in the U.S. is more than just a green headline. It’s an inflection point—one that offers a real path toward regaining control over the heart of 21st-century energy infrastructure. But to win this race, more bold action must follow.
At stake is nothing less than America’s future in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, jobs, and national security. If we cede battery supply chains to foreign powers, we risk dependence, vulnerability, and diminished sovereignty. The U.S. must not only support firms like ABTC, it must elevate them as strategic national assets.
The Demand Is Exploding — and So Is the Risk
Electric vehicles, grid storage systems, portable electronics, drones, medical devices—all rely on advanced batteries. Demand is skyrocketing. But the sources of the metals and materials that power those batteries are concentrated overseas: lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and their refined derivatives.
When you combine high demand, long lead times, geopolitical risk, and fragile supply chains, any disruption can cascade into bigger consequences—price shocks, supply shortages, or foreign leverage over American industries. The logic is clear: we must build out the U.S. battery ecosystem from end to end, including not just mining and manufacturing but recycling and circular supply chains.
The ABTC–Call2Recycle move is strategic. It doesn’t just collect spent batteries—it aims to close the loop: recover critical metals domestically and feed them back into American battery production. That’s not just industrial policy—it’s sovereignty in action.
What Makes ABTC’s Technology Special (and Strategic)
ABTC’s recycling system is not a simple “grind it up and hope for the best” approach. It is patented, proprietary, and American-built.
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It processes multiple chemistries and forms, from EV packs to consumer batteries.
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Its two-phase system produces battery-grade lithium hydroxide, nickel sulfate, cobalt sulfate, and manganese sulfate.
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Its facilities have already run at 115% of design capacity.
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It was developed entirely in-house, allowing ABTC to stay ahead of global rivals.
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Its intellectual property is secured, keeping this know-how in American hands.
This isn’t just recycling. This is a national security support system that protects America’s independence in the energy era ahead.
Recycling = National Security Infrastructure
Batteries are today what oil pipelines and refineries were a century ago: the backbone of power and defense. A domestic recycling system is as critical to U.S. sovereignty as an aircraft carrier or a missile shield.
It buffers America against foreign embargoes and shocks.
It reduces reliance on adversary-controlled mines.
It strengthens defense supply chains by ensuring reliable access to critical materials.
It embeds jobs and security in American communities.
A closed-loop recycling system like ABTC’s is infrastructure for freedom.
Beyond Call2Recycle: Building a Network of Allies
The Call2Recycle partnership is an important first step. But one partnership cannot carry the weight of America’s future.
To truly succeed, more U.S. companies must lock arms with ABTC. Automakers should commit to buying American-sourced recycled materials. Utilities and grid operators must integrate ABTC supply into energy storage projects. Retailers should expand collection programs tied to ABTC facilities. Defense contractors must treat ABTC as a strategic partner in secure sourcing. Logistics and waste firms should align systems to move batteries directly into ABTC’s pipeline.
This is not just commerce. It is coalition-building—a web of American industries working together to keep our future at home.
The Jobs Story: From Nevada to Main Street
Patriotic Americans understand that security is only half the story. The other half is jobs—the kind of solid, middle-class careers that keep Main Street alive.
ABTC’s recycling centers are not just labs or warehouses. They are factories, plants, and clusters that hire technicians, operators, engineers, drivers, and support staff. They bring new opportunities to regions that once relied on mining, steel, or auto jobs that have since disappeared.
Think of a small town in Nevada or Tennessee: a new recycling facility doesn’t just employ hundreds. It fuels diners, hardware stores, local schools, and community pride. These are American paychecks tied to American security—the best combination this country can hope for.
If leaders get this right, battery recycling could become one of the great job engines of the next generation, restoring dignity to work in places too often left behind.
What Must Be Done
Federal and state governments must provide sustained tax credits, DOE contracts, and expedited permitting.
Industry must buy in with long-term agreements.
Schools and universities must train the workforce of the future.
Citizens must learn that recycling batteries is as patriotic as paying taxes or voting.
ABTC facilities must be treated as critical infrastructure.
A Vision for 2035
If we win this race, America will see dozens of large-scale recycling plants, tens of thousands of middle-class jobs, over half of our critical minerals supplied domestically, and a supply chain no foreign adversary can choke off. We’ll set global standards, exporting not just batteries but freedom.
Why America Must Choose ABTC—and More Like It
China and Europe are not waiting. If America hesitates, we will watch entire industries slip through our fingers.
ABTC’s patented recycling technology is not only a business—it is a pillar of national security, economic growth, and patriotic job creation. The Call2Recycle partnership is proof of what’s possible, but the real future lies in multiplying these partnerships across industries until no one doubts that America controls its own battery destiny.
This is the test of leadership. This is the demand of history. And this is the call we at The Craig Bushon Show will continue to make loud and clear. Because at the end of the day, it’s about more than energy. It’s about freedom, jobs, and America’s future.
Disclaimer: This op-ed represents commentary and opinion from The Craig Bushon Show Media Team. It is based on publicly available information, industry reporting, and independent analysis. It is not investment, legal, or technical advice. Readers are encouraged to verify all facts and consult professional sources before making business or policy decisions.
