New battery waste management rules after 20 years
A fine could be imposed for non-compliance, said the government
There is scope for entrepreneurship too; pic - MDDTimes
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change published the government’s Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 on 24 August that will replace the Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001.
The new rules cover all batteries: Electric Vehicle (EV), portable, automotive and industrial, and are based on the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) where the producers (including importers) are responsible for collection and recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries and use of recovered materials from wastes into new batteries.
The ministry said that EPR mandates all waste batteries will have to be collected and sent for recycling/refurbishment, and prohibits disposal in landfills and incineration. However, producers may authorise any other entity for collection, recycling or refurbishment of waste batteries.
There will be a mechanism and centralized online portal for exchange of EPR certificates between producers and recyclers/refurbishers to fulfil the obligations of producers. A fine could be imposed for non-fulfilment of EPR targets.
The rules also promote setting up of new industries and entrepreneurship in collection and recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries, said the ministry.
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