What’s not mentioned in all this is that the use of Lithium batteries does not deplete the Lithium.
How so, please?
Real world.... Batteries wear out... All rechargeable batteries have a finite life. They have a stated number of recharge cycles before their recharge capacity is depleted below the rainy required by the duty. The battery may have some mechanical deterioration or chemical interferences that diminishes performance. It doesn't matter though, the battery is worn out. Lithium batteries are not immune to this.
So, we have a worn out lithium battery and hypothetically, nothing has leaked out via a mechanical issue so it's all still contained. Fine. Some number of the batteries are not recycled. Fact of life - Lithium is lost. Recycling is not the same as perfect recovery - Lithium is lost. Another fact of life.