The rapid proliferation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), driven by the global transition toward electric mobility and renewable energy storage, is projected to accumulate approximately 11 million tonnes of end-of-life LIBs by 2030 (Safarzadeh & Maria, 2025). Disposing such large volumes poses significant environmental and resource management challenges due to hazardous metals, including lithium, cobalt, and nickel, and the underutilization of valuable materials such as graphite (Winslow et al., 2018). A comprehensive assessment of current LIB recycling technologies reveals the dominance of pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods, both energy-intensive and associated with considerable environmental footprints (Roy et al., 2021). In contrast, biological approaches, particularly bioleaching, have emerged as promising alternatives due to their lower energy requirements and reduced environmental impact. Bioleaching employs acidophilic chemolithotrophic microorganisms, notably Acidithiobacillus spp. and Leptospirillum spp., to facilitate the solubilization of metals through biogenic acid production and redox-mediated dissolution mechanisms (Pathak et al., 2017). This process enables the selective recovery of lithium and associated metals from spent LIBs under mild operating conditions. Current research indicates that microbial metal recovery strategies can support the development of circular economy frameworks by offering cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternatives to traditional recycling technologies. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) further demonstrate the advantages of biologically driven processes in terms of reduced greenhouse gas emissions and lower operational costs (Fu et al., 2023). Despite these benefits, key challenges remain, including microbial tolerance to elevated metal concentrations, slow kinetics, and limitations in process scalability. Addressing these constraints through bioprocess optimization and integration into existing waste management systems could enhance the industrial viability of bioleaching technologies. Overall, microbially mediated bioextraction represents a transformative approach for the sustainable recovery of critical metals from end-of-life LIBs, aligning with global objectives for environmental protection, resource circularity, and economic resilience.