LORDSTOWN — Ultium Cells LLC, the joint venture between General Motors and South Korea’s LG Energy Solution to mass produce battery cells for electric vehicles, has an agreement with a Canadian firm to recover up to 100 percent of the scrap material from its manufacturing process.

The deal with Li-Cycle, one of the leading lithium-ion battery recyclers in North America, was announced Tuesday.

Li-Cycle’s recycling technology will allow it to transform Ultium Cells’ manufacturing scrap into new battery-grade materials, including lithium carbonate, cobalt sulphate and nickel sulphate that can be used to make new batteries or in other industries.

“Our efforts with Ultium Cells LLC will be instrumental in redirecting battery manufacturing scrap from landfills and returning a substantial amount of valuable battery-grade materials back into the battery-supply chain,” said Ajay Kochhar, Li-Cycle’s president, CEO and co-founder. “This partnership is a critical step forward in advancing our proven lithium-ion resource recovery technology as a more sustainable alternative to mining.”

Also, the process through which the battery materials will be recycled emits 30 percent less greenhouse gas than traditional processes, helping to minimize environmental impact, according to GM.

Since 2013, GM has recycled or reused 100 percent of the battery packs received from customers, including any packs replaced through warranty service. Most GM electric vehicles are repaired with refurbished packs.

Ultium batteries will feature a modular design, also making them easy to reuse or recycle.

“We strive to make more with less waste and energy expended,” said Thomas Gallagher, chief operating officer, Ultium Cells LLC. “This is a crucial step in improving the sustainability of our components and manufacturing processes.”

The new scrap recycling process will begin later this year.

The $2.3 billion, nearly 3 million-square-foot plant — large enough to contain 30 football fields — on Tod Avenue SW is expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2021 with early phase production beginning in early 2022.

It will employ upward of 1,100 people at full capacity.

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