Related party transactions - Narrative (Details) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions				2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			36 Months Ended
	Jan. 25, 2021 shares	May 01, 2020 shares	Jul. 19, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 CAD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue				$ 5,900,000	$ 18,300,000	$ 13,400,000	$ 7,300,000
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for credit losses of $0)				4,300,000	1,000,000.0	1,500,000	4,100,000
Accounts payable				20,100,000	76,400,000	12,600,000	9,400,000
Related party transaction, amounts of transaction				200,000	400,000	900,000	400,000
Li-Cycle Corp. | Consulting agreement - Atria Ltd
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Subsidiary, ownership percentage, noncontrolling owner		5.00%
Consulting agreement - Atria Ltd
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party transaction, amounts of transaction				0	0	0	0
Director Consulting Agreement - Anthony Tse
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party transaction, amounts of transaction				0	0	0	100,000
Product revenue
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue				5,800,000	12,600,000	12,100,000	6,900,000
President
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, annual payment								$ 0.1
Lessee, operating lease, notice of termination of contract, term								60 days
Related Party
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for credit losses of $0)				300,000	300,000	200,000	2,100,000
Accounts payable				0	100,000	0	0
Stock issued during period, shares, issued for services (in shares) | shares	12	12
Stock issued during period, shares, issued for services, installment each month (in shares) | shares		1
Related Party | Pella Ventures
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Stock issued during period, shares, issued for services (in shares) | shares	2
Related Party | Consulting agreement - Atria Ltd
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Stock issued during period, shares, issued for services (in shares) | shares	8
Related Party | Director Of Li-Cycle Corp.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Stock issued during period, shares, issued for services (in shares) | shares	2
Related Party | Product revenue
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue				$ 400,000	$ 1,400,000	$ 2,300,000	$ 3,200,000
Director | Director Consulting Agreement - Anthony Tse
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party transaction, amounts of transaction			$ 100,000