Context: Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has published the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022.

• Aim: To ensure environmentally sound management of waste batteries.
• These rules will replace the Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001.
• Batteries covered: The rules cover all types of batteries, viz. Electric Vehicle batteries, portable batteries, automotive batteries and industrial batteries.

Key provisions of the rules

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.

• The rules enable the setting up of a mechanism and centralized online portal for the exchange of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificates. 

Polluter Pay Principle: Environmental compensation will be imposed for non-fulfilment of EPR targets. 

• The funds collected under environmental compensation shall be utilized in the collection and refurbishing or recycling of uncollected and non-recycled waste batteries.

Industries for waste Batteries: Promote setting up of new industries and entrepreneurship in collection and recycling /refurbishment of waste batteries. 

Use of recycled materials for new batteries: The rules prescribe the use of a certain amount of recycled materials in the making of new batteries. 

Monitoring the implementation of rules: Online registration & reporting, auditing, and committee for monitoring the implementation of rules and taking measures required for removal of difficulties.

Key significance of these rules

• Firstly, sustainable management of battery waste would increase India’s push for electric vehicles.

• Secondly, the rules will bring new technologies and investment in recycling and refurbishment.

• Thirdly, it will help reduce the dependency on new raw materials and save natural resources.