To ensure environmentally sound management of waste batteries, ministry of environment published the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022. New rules will replace Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001.
Notification of these rules is a transformative step towards implementation of the announcement made by PM Modi in his address to the Nation on Independence Day on 15th August, 2021 to promote Circular Economy in full earnest.
With a view to promote recycling and refurbishment of waste batteries in the country, the Central government has notified the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 to ensure environmentally sound management of waste batteries. pic.twitter.com/flu0de9vhn
— IANS (@ians_india) August 25, 2022
The rules cover Electric Vehicle batteries, portable batteries, automotive batteries and industrial batteries.
The rules function based on the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) where the producers including importers of batteries are responsible for collection and recycling or refurbishment of waste batteries and use of recovered materials from wastes into new batteries.
EPR mandates that all waste batteries be collected and sent for recycling or refurbishment, and it prohibits disposal in landfills and incineration. To meet the EPR obligations, producers can authorise any other entity for collection, recycling or refurbishment of waste batteries or do its own.
The rules will enable setting up a mechanism and centralized online portal for exchange of EPR certificates between producers and recyclers or refurbishers to fulfil the obligations of producers, states a ministry of environment press release.
The rules promote setting up of new industries and entrepreneurship in collection and recycling or refurbishment of waste batteries.
The rules will bring new technologies and investment in the recycling and refurbishment industry and create new business opportunities under the mandate of minimum percentage of recovery of materials from waste batteries.
Prescribing the use of a certain amount of recycled materials in making of new batteries will reduce the dependency on new raw materials and save natural resources.
For ensuring effective implementation and compliance online registration and reporting, auditing, and a committee for monitoring the implementation of rules will be done.
On the principle of 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 will be used in collection and refurbishing or recycling of uncollected and non-recycled waste batteries.