New Delhi: The Central Government has notified Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 to ensure “environmentally sound” management of waste batteries. The new rules cover all types of batteries, such as Electric Vehicle batteries, portable batteries, automotive batteries and industrial batteries.
The Battery Waste Management Rules will replace the Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001, after the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, published them on August 24, 2022.
The new rules function based on the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) where the producers (including importers) of batteries are responsible for the collection and recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries and the use of recovered materials from wastes into new batteries.
EPR mandates that all waste batteries be collected and sent for recycling/refurbishment, and its prohibits disposal in landfills and incineration. To meet the EPR obligations, producers may engage themselves or authorise any other entity for the collection, recycling or refurbishment of waste batteries.
“The rules will enable setting up a mechanism and centralized online portal for exchange of EPR certificates between producers and recyclers/refurbishers to fulfil the obligations of producers,” the Ministry stated today, adding that they will promote the setting up of new industries and entrepreneurship in collection and recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries.
Mandating the minimum percentage of recovery of materials from waste batteries under the rules is further expected to bring new technologies and investment in the recycling and refurbishment industry and create new business opportunities. Moreover, prescribing the use of a certain amount of recycled materials in the making of new batteries will reduce the dependency on new raw materials and save natural resources.
Online registration and reporting, auditing, and committee for monitoring the implementation of rules and taking measures required for removal of difficulties are salient features of rules for ensuring effective implementation and compliance.
On the basis of the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle, environmental compensation will be imposed for non-fulfilment of extended producer responsibility targets, responsibilities and obligations set out in the rules. The funds collected under environmental compensation shall be utilised in the collection and refurbishing or recycling of uncollected and non-recycled waste batteries.
– global bihari bureau