Centre notifies new battery waste management norms

The norms also prescribe the use of a certain amount of recycled materials in making of new batteries in an attempt to reduce the dependency on new raw materials.

By Shahkar Abidi calendar 27 Aug 2022 Views icon3242 Views Share - Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to LinkedIn Share to Whatsapp

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Thursday notified new norms for battery waste management which it claims will help in better ensuring adoption of environmentally sound management of waste batteries.

The norms also prescribe the use of a certain amount of recycled materials in making of new batteries in an attempt to reduce the dependency on new raw materials.

Notified on Wednesday, the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 will replace the Battery (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001, the government announced on Thursday. 

As per the statement from the ministry, the rules cover all types of batteries-  electric vehicle batteries, portable batteries, automotive batteries and industrial batteries

The ministry emphasised that the  rules are based on the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) where the producers (including importers) of batteries are responsible for collection and recycling/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/refurbishment, and it  prohibits disposal in landfills and incineration.

To meet the EPR obligations, producers may engage themselves or authorise any other entity for 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 added. 

The new  rules promote the  establishment of new industries and entrepreneurship in collection and recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries which will help in bringing new technologies and investments into the sector.   

On the principle of Polluter Pays Principle, environmental compensation will be imposed for non-fulfilment of EPR targets, responsibilities and obligations set out in the rules. The funds collected under environmental compensation shall be utilised in collection and refurbishing or recycling of uncollected and non-recycled waste batteries. Online registration and reporting, auditing, and a committee for monitoring the implementation of rules and to take measures required for removal of difficulties are salient features of rules for ensuring effective implementation and compliance, the ministry continued.

 

RELATED ARTICLES
Toyota Kirloskar Motor records best-ever sales in a decade: 174,015 units in FY2023

auther Autocar Pro News Desk calendar01 Apr 2023

Fiscal year-ending month of March 2023 with 18,670 units was the best in FY2023 and helped accelerate sales

Tata Motors surpasses half-a-million sales in FY2023, improves upon CY2022 performance

auther Autocar Pro News Desk calendar01 Apr 2023

With wholesales of 538,640 units, the carmaker has driven past the half-a-million mark three months after achieving the ...

Maruti Suzuki sells 1.6m PVs in FY2023, UVs record 26% growth, grow share to 23%

auther Autocar Pro News Desk calendar01 Apr 2023

Passenger vehicle market leader registers 21% YoY growth; while the Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift, Tour S and Wag...