as lithium-ion battery (LIB) production increases, the EU's recycling regulations require higher recoveries of the critical raw materials to reduce the environmental impact of mining. Recycling of waste LIBs is a challenging task as the battery cells are composed of a complex mixture of toxic and highly reactive materials, tightly glued together by a chemically stable binder and current pyrometallurgical processes only recover few valuable elements. To recover a broader range of critical raw materials from spent LIBs, mechanical and hydrometallurgical recycling methods must be employed. This requires development of a safe, environmentally sustainable, and industrially scalable discharging process to improve recycling of LIBs. Electrochemical discharge shows promise due to its simplicity, scalability, and potentially low cost, but inefficient discharge and casing corrosion, which results in production of toxic wastewater, and loss of critical raw materials remain unsolved. NaCI solution has been extensively studied as a promising discharge medium because of its low cost and efficient discharge. However, severe corrosion of the connector poles can lead to incomplete discharging and need for extensive investments in toxic wastewater treatment and gas cleaning. To reduce the corrosivity of the NaCI solution, zinc salts were added to the solution. The Zn2+ ions suppressed the cathodic corrosion reaction by forming Zn(OH)2 particles with OH" ions produced by the oxygen reduction on the casing surfaces, preventing oxygen from driving the corrosion reaction. Formation of metallic zinc increased the discharge efficiency. Consequently, the discharging process became less polluting and discharged LIBs safer to recycle.