There is a large cash deposit for recycling them, not so with lithium

Yes, that is because in many places it is a law, plus recycling them is a money making industry.

I predict that it will be the same for lithium in the near future.

Based on what? Where are the economics to back that feeling up?

The first pilot plants are being built, e.g. https://electrek.co/2023/03/02/tesla-cofounders-redwood-show...

Redwood Materials: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwood_Materials :

> In March 2023 Redwood claimed to have recovered more than 95% of important metals (incl. lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper) from 500,000 lb (230,000 kg) of old NiMH and Li-Ion packs. [10]

That's without $10K humanoid robots sorting through electronics and removing batteries IIUC.

Recovering rare earths from electronics waste should be even more profitable now. Just look at Copenhill; how many inputs and how many outputs?

"Turning waste into gold" (2024) https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/02/240229124612.h... :

> Researchers have recovered gold from electronic waste. Their highly sustainable new method is based on a protein fibril sponge, which the scientists derive from whey, a food industry byproduct. ETH Zurich researchers have recovered the precious metal from electronic waste.

"[Star-shaped] Gold nanoparticles kill cancer – but not as thought" (2024) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40819864

Specifically, 99%.