I think you may have mis-read the article. Here is a Reuters article from 2018.https://www.reutersevents.com/sustainability/cobalt-supply-challenges-fuel-efforts-recycle-ev-and-smartphone-batteries
This one says that as much as 25% of the cobalt in a Lion battery can be from recycling. It also says that up to 95% of the cobalt in a battery can be reclaimed by recycling. Article is a bit dated so would expect better numbers from current technology.
It is also worth noting that the recent EV subsidy is cut in half if battery materials and manufacture doesn't come from proper countries. DRC & China are not on the approved list and there is a huge scramble by foreign makers to build EV and battery plants in NA.