Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that southern Arkansas’s Smackover Formation contains 5.1–19.0 million metric tons of lithium dissolved in brines. At the low end, that amount would exceed nine times the International Energy Agency’s projected global lithium demand for electric vehicles in 2030—but only if the lithium could be commercially recovered. The estimate is lithium in place, not proven reserves or battery material already available to automakers.
How much lithium is in Arkansas?
The USGS’s 2024 estimate covers lithium present in brines in the southern Arkansas portion of the Smackover Formation. Its range—5.1–19.0 million metric tons—is an estimate of the resource underground, not a tally of material that companies can necessarily extract, refine, or sell. The agency explicitly says the estimate does not account for the technological or economic feasibility of extraction. USGS resource assessment
The often-repeated comparison with “the world’s EVs” comes from a USGS news release: even the low-end estimate would be more than nine times the IEA’s projected global lithium demand for EVs in 2030, if commercially recoverable. That is a comparison of an in-place estimate with projected demand for one year. It does not mean Arkansas can supply nine years of EV production, or that all the estimated lithium will become usable battery material. USGS news release, October 2024
Why an in-place estimate is not a supply forecast
The Smackover is a broad geological formation that has long supported oil, gas, and brine operations. The lithium is dissolved in brine, rather than sitting as a conventional solid ore deposit. USGS drew on historical brine chemistry measurements from 1965–2018 and samples collected in 2022, then used geological and reservoir information to map likely lithium concentrations. Across Gulf Coast Smackover data, reported concentrations range from about 1 to 477 milligrams per liter; that broad range does not mean every Arkansas well has the same concentration. USGS assessment and methods
#1 Best Overall
- UN Approved Container for Dry Cell Batteries -- Easily recycle various dry cell batteries such as Alkaline, Nickel Cadmium (NiCad), Zinc-Carbon (Zn), Rechargeable Lithium-ion, Nickel-Metal Hydride, mercury, Silver-Oxide, AA, AAA, C, D and 9 Volts.
- Easy and Convenient Recycling Process -- Our kit offers an easy process. You will receive a container in a box, and a free return label. Just drop your batteries, attach the label, and send for recycling—no stress or extra fees.
- Prevention of Landfill Disposal -- Recycling makes sure that batteries don't end up in landfills. This prevents dangerous materials from getting into the environment and helps keep our ecosystems safe.
- Recycling You Can Trust -- We are certified recycling experts who share our dedication to the environment. Your batteries will be handled responsibly, reducing the negative impact of improper disposal.
- Be a Part of Something Bigger -- Recycling batteries isn't just responsibility – it's a step towards a circular economy. By doing your part, you're helping to conserve valuable resources and lessen the demand for new materials.
Brine already brought to the surface offers a sense of the distinction between lithium in fluid and lithium in a product: USGS estimated that approximately 5,000 metric tons of dissolved lithium were brought up in southern Arkansas in 2022 in brine waste streams associated with existing operations. That figure is not recovered lithium carbonate or battery-grade supply. USGS assessment
For an EV supply chain, the relevant quantity is not simply how much lithium is underground. It is how much can be consistently separated from the brine, converted into a suitable chemical product, and delivered at a cost and scale that make commercial sense. The USGS estimate does not establish those outcomes.
Rank #2
- Container for Wide range of Lithium Batteries -- Easily recycle various lithium batteries from diverse devices, promoting hassle-free disposal and reducing electronic waste. Hold up to 41.8 lbs of Lithium batteries.
- Easy and Convenient Recycling Process -- Our kit offers an easy process. You will receive a container in a box, and a free return label. Just drop your batteries, attach the label, and send for recycling—no stress or extra fees.
- Prevention of Landfill Disposal -- Recycling makes sure that lithium batteries don't end up in landfills. This prevents dangerous materials from getting into the environment and helps keep our ecosystems safe.
- Recycling You Can Trust -- We are certified recycling experts who share our dedication to the environment. Your batteries will be handled responsibly, reducing the negative impact of improper disposal.
- Be a Part of Something Bigger -- Recycling your lithium batteries isn't just responsibility – it's a step towards a circular economy. By doing your part, you're helping to conserve valuable resources and lessen the demand for new materials.
How direct lithium extraction is proposed to work
Companies pursuing Arkansas brines are looking to direct lithium extraction (DLE): pump lithium-bearing brine to the surface, separate lithium from the fluid, process it into a lithium compound, and return the remaining brine underground. The U.S. Department of Energy’s May 2026 final environmental assessment describes SWA Lithium’s proposed process as producing up to 200,000 barrels of brine per day, extracting lithium, converting it into battery-quality lithium carbonate, and reinjecting the remaining brine to maintain pressure. The 200,000-barrel figure is a proposed design rate, not a measured commercial operating rate. DOE final environmental assessment, May 2026
DLE is therefore a proposed industrial route, not proof that a full-scale Arkansas plant can sustain the expected throughput, recovery rate, product quality, cost, or environmental performance. Those practical results determine how much of the geological estimate can become dependable supply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- Pre-Paid Return Shipping Label for Full Recycle Kit
- Properly recycle sealed lead acid batteries
- Lead Acid Battery Recycling Kit includes all shipping and packing materials needed
- Obtain Certificate of Recycling online after processing
- Leaking or broken batteries, car batteries, and dry cell batteries prohibited for this kit
Is Arkansas already producing lithium for EV batteries?
There are meaningful development milestones, but they are not the same as sustained commercial production.
- ExxonMobil’s pilot: ExxonMobil reported producing lithium carbonate in a DLE pilot. The company also announced a non-binding memorandum of understanding with SK On for possible offtake of up to 100,000 metric tons from its first planned Arkansas project. The MOU is not a binding purchase contract, and company-reported pilot output does not demonstrate long-term commercial production. ExxonMobil announcement, 2024
- SWA Lithium environmental review: DOE issued a May 2026 finding of no significant impact for its environmental review of proposed cost-shared support for the SWA Lithium project. That finding is tied to DOE’s proposed support action; it is not a declaration that a plant is operating, that every project permit is complete, or that commercial extraction has been proven. DOE finding of no significant impact
The federal permitting dashboard provides project information and environmental-review context for SWA Lithium/Standard Lithium. Its entries and schedules can change, so a listed milestone or date should not be read as proof of project completion or operation. Federal Permitting Dashboard project page
Rank #4
- Durable Metal Construction: Made from sturdy metal material for long-lasting use.
- Large Size: Measures 11.5 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 6 inches high for ample storage.
- Multipurpose Use: Ideal for recycling and storing cell phones, batteries, and accessories.
- Easy to Use: Comes with built-in hinges for easy opening and closing.
- Compact Design: Slim profile takes up minimal space in your home or office.
What still has to be demonstrated
The key uncertainty is practical recoverability at commercial scale. The USGS resource estimate does not say what fraction of the lithium can be captured, what it will cost, how quickly production could ramp up, or how the process will perform environmentally over the long term. Pilot production, proposed plant capacity, an environmental-review finding, and non-binding offtake interest are distinct milestones; none alone answers those questions.
Arkansas’s Smackover brines may represent a very large potential source of U.S. lithium. Whether that potential becomes a dependable EV supply depends on successful extraction and processing at sustained commercial scale—not on the headline resource number alone.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Durable Construction: Made from sturdy cardboard with reinforced edges for long-lasting use.
- Secure Storage: Hinged lid keeps items safely inside while the large size holds multiple devices.
- Easy to Use: Simply slide devices into the box until it's full, then seal it shut for safe disposal.
- Environmentally Friendly: Recycles old batteries and cellphones in an environmentally responsible way.
- Convenient Size: Compact rectangular shape fits easily in any room or office space.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
