Multi-life　cycle　(MLC)　recycling　of　lead　is　an　effective　way　to　achieve　the　sustainable　development　of　the　lead　industry,　but　the　comprehensive　effect　of　resource　utilization　and　environmental　impact　in　the　process　is　difficult　to　evaluate.　Eco-efficiency　is　a　comprehensive　indicator　that　takes　into　account　resources　and　environment　and　can　be　effectively　applied　to　the　evaluation　of　the　MLC　recycling　of　lead.　Therefore,　this　study　aimed　to　develops　modified　stock-based　model　and　dynamic　material　flow　analysis　to　quantify　the　MLC　recycling　structure　of　lead,　and　then　constructs　an　eco-efficiency　evaluation　system　combined　with　life　cycle　assessment.　The　MLC　recycling　of　lead　was　found　to　no　longer　allow　China　mine　primary　lead　in　2041.　During　2000–2050,　the　MLC　recycling　increased　both　the　resource　cumulative　effect　by　11.13　times　and　the　eco-efficiency　measured　via　the　indicator　of　global　warming　potential　by　2.55　times.　We　construct　three　policy　scenarios:　enhancing　recycling　technology,　massive　replacement　and　improving　environmental　regulation.　The　combined　policy　of　all　the　scenarios　exerted　the　best　promotion　effect　on　the　recycling　structure,　resource　cumulative　effect,　and　eco-efficiency.　Improving　the　lead　production　technology　and　seeking　a　win-win　situation　between　lead-acid　and　lithium　batteries　were　the　key　to　achieving　the　sustainable　development　of　the　lead　industry.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd