Significant accounting policies (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2021
List Of Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Principal Subsidiaries and their Geographic Location The Company’s principal subsidiaries and their geographic location as at October 31, 2021 was as follows:
CompanyLocationOwnership interest
Li-Cycle U.S. Holdings Inc.Delaware, U.S.100%
Li-Cycle Inc.Delaware, U.S.100%
Li-Cycle North America Hub, Inc.Delaware, U.S.100%
Li-Cycle Americas Corp.Ontario, Canada100%
Li-Cycle Corp.Ontario, Canada100%
Li-Cycle Europe AGSwitzerland100%
Li-Cycle APAC PTE LTD.Singapore100%
Summary of plant and equipment The estimated useful lives are as follows:
Computers3 years
Vehicles5 years
Plant equipment5 years
Storage containers10 years
Leasehold improvementsShorter of term of lease or estimated useful life
Plant
equipment		Storage
containers		VehiclesLeasehold
improvements		Total
$$$$$
Cost
At October 31, 20191,043,231 53,610 90,707 58,848 1,246,396 
Additions3,519,013 13,91468,243 1,506,493 5,107,663 
Disposals(150,690)— — — (150,690)
Foreign Exchange on Translation23,320 95(1,346)11,86033,929 
At October 31, 2020
4,434,87467,619157,6041,577,2016,237,298
Additions
17,674,98362,0174,642,25522,379,255
Disposals
—(40,323)(40,323)
At October 31, 2021
22,109,85767,619179,2986,219,45628,576,230
Accumulated depreciation
At October 31, 2019(170,691)(1,397)(2,187)(11,329)(185,604)
Depreciation(350,173)(5,977)(22,408)(115,958)(494,516)
Disposals43,744 — — — 43,744 
Foreign Exchange on Translation2,462 (36)(232)(536)1,658 
At October 31, 2020
(474,658)(7,410)(24,827)(127,823)(634,718)
Depreciation(1,083,687)(6,762)(34,545)(437,113)(1,562,107)
Disposals
——10,058—10,058
At October 31, 2021
(1,558,345)(14,172)(49,314)(564,936)(2,186,767)
Carrying amounts— 
At October 31, 2019872,54052,21388,52047,5191,060,792
At October 31, 2020
3,960,21660,209132,7771,449,3785,602,580
At October 31, 2021
20,551,51253,447129,9845,654,52026,389,463
Schedule of Classification and Measurement Basis of the Company’s Financial Instruments The classification and measurement basis of the Company’s financial instruments are as follows:
Financial InstrumentMeasurement
Cash and cash equivalentsAmortized cost
Trade accounts receivablesFVTPL
Other accounts receivablesAmortized cost
Accounts payable and accrued liabilitiesAmortized cost
Restricted share unitsFVTPL
WarrantsFVTPL
Loans payableAmortized cost
Lease liabilitiesAmortized cost
Convertible debtAmortized cost
Conversion feature of convertible debtFVTPL
Summary of general and administrative expenses
20202019
$$
Office and administrative316,401355,361
Travel and entertainment160,332137,943
476,733493,304