Government Notifies Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change published the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 to ensure environmentally sound management of waste batteries and replace the Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001.
Batteries covered under the new rules:
- Electric Vehicle batteries
- Portable batteries
- Automotive batteries
- Industrial batteries
Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022:
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Producers (including importers) of batteries are responsible for the collection and recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries and the use of recovered materials from waste into new batteries.
- Mechanism of centralized online portal: For the exchange of EPR certificates between producers and recyclers/refurbishers to fulfil the obligations of producers.
- Industries and entrepreneurship: Setting up of new industries and entrepreneurship in collection and recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries.
- Mandatory minimum percentage of recovery of materials from waste batteries: It will bring new technologies and investment in the recycling and refurbishment industry and create new business opportunities.
- Use of a certain amount of recycled materials for new batteries: It will reduce the dependency on new raw materials and save natural resources
- Online registration & reporting, auditing, and a committee: To monitor and implement rules and to take measures required for removal of difficulties.
- Polluter Pays Principle: Environmental compensation will be imposed for non-fulfilment of Extended Producer Responsibility targets, responsibilities and obligations set out in the rules.
- Utilization of funds: The funds collected under environmental compensation shall be utilized in collection and refurbishing or recycling of uncollected and non-recycled waste batteries.
