Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, is a step in the right direction, however the Rules suffer from a few critical gaps that unless addressed can impede efficient and effective recycling.
Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022
Coverage
- The rules cover all types of batteries, including Electric Vehicle batteries, portable batteries, automotive batteries, and industrial batteries.
Extended Producer Responsibility
- The producers of batteries are responsible for the collection and recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries and the use of recovered materials from waste into new batteries. Rules prohibit 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.
Online Portal for exchange of EPR Certificates
- It will enable the setting up of a mechanism and centralized online portal for the exchange of EPR certificates between producers and recyclers/refurbishers to fulfill the obligations of producers.
Online Registration
- Online registration & reporting, auditing, and committee for monitoring the implementation of rules and taking measures required for removal of difficulties.
Principle of Polluter Pays
- Environmental compensation will be imposed for non-fulfilment of Extended Producer Responsibility targets, responsibilities and obligations set out in the rules.
Recovery Target
- There is a target for recovery of the battery material — 70% by 2024-25, then 80% by 2026, and 90% after 2026-27 onwards.
Environmental compensation Fund
- The funds collected under environmental compensation shall be utilized in the collection and refurbishing or recycling of uncollected and non-recycled waste batteries.
Gaps in Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022
Labeling and Information Deficiency
- Current battery labels lack comprehensive information about their chemical composition, impeding effective recycling.
- Lack of data on metals in lithium-ion batteries hampers recyclers’ ability to recover valuable materials efficiently.
Design Complexity
- Battery packs often have intricate assembly methods involving welding, adhesive, and screws, making disassembly challenging.
- Standardizing joining techniques could facilitate automated disassembly.
EPR Implementation and Budgeting
- The rules lack a clear directive on the budget that manufacturers should allocate for collecting and recycling spent batteries.
- This ambiguity may result in low rates paid to recyclers, impacting the efficiency of waste collection and processing.
Informal Sector Competition
- As the volume of spent batteries increases, informal collectors might outprice formal collectors, potentially leading to hazardous recycling practices and safety concerns.
Chemical Composition Changes
- The shift towards safer but less valuable lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries poses a challenge. Recyclers might struggle to recover value due to the minimal lithium content in LFP cells.
Safety Standards and Handling
- Absence of rules governing the storage, transport, and handling of electric vehicle batteries could pose safety risks, especially if the informal sector becomes more involved.