General overview of the battery recycling business

Usually, disposing of old batteries results in vast heaps of waste in the environment. Besides, although batteries are mainly used but these come with several harmful materials. So, disposing of them doesn’t sound good. Thus, a better alternative for throwing your battery away is recycling them. This highlights the need for the battery recycling business.

Overview of battery recycling

The battery recycling business involves the practice of reprocessing and reuse of batteries. The process aims to reduce the number of batteries discarded as waste materials. Batteries have various heavy metals and poisonous chemicals. Thus, their disposal has led to various environmental issues due to soil and water contamination. As such, batteries require recycling to adhere to health and environmental benefits.

Overview of lead acid battery recycling

Recycling lead-acid batteries are highly profitable and so is the lead-acid battery recycling business. This is due to the high recyclability of components used in the battery. The major components used are:

• electrode paste (lead oxide and lead sulphate)
• lead (alloy) from grids and poles of the battery
• sulphuric acid
• plastic (polypropylene)

This secondary lead so obtained is highly recyclable but requires purification before its usage. Also, the increasing demand for lead is met via this secondary lead as it is cheaper than mining new lead. Moreover, the battery recycling business is far less polluting than mining the mineral. Furthermore, with proper pollution control measures, it can be further reduced. Lead-acid battery recycling involves refining and melting the lead and the lead paste from discarded and dead batteries.

Overview of the lithium-ion battery recycling

The sector for lithium-ion batteries in India is expected to grow exponentially in the next five years. Moreover, lithium-ion battery recycling is expected to offer a $1000 million opportunity by 2030. However, India meets its lithium-ion battery needs solely through imports.

That said, setting up the battery recycling business is still profitable as India has an abundant domestic source of metals. Currently, less than 5% of lithium-ion batteries are recycled due to economic and technological constraints. Thus, the best part is that lithium battery recycling and reusing will direct us toward a circular economy.

Thus, to promote this and fulfil India’s green goals, the MoEF&CC (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) stipulated the Battery Waste Management Rules 2020. Indeed, the BWM seeks the safe disposal of hazardous battery wastes and promotes a circular economy by establishing a battery recycling business. Further, the rules fix the responsibilities of dealers, producers, consumers, and entities involved in the segregation, collection, transportation, recycling and refurbishment of all kinds of batteries, including lithium-ion and lead acid batteries. The following section describes these rules in detail.

Provision of certificate for Waste Battery

According to the BWM rules, there is a provision for the certificate for waste batteries which is explained below –

• In no situation, the amount of waste battery recycled or refurbished by the battery recycling business must be more than the unit’s installed capacity. These certificates are for the waste battery category-wise and will include the unit’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) data.
• The certificate for waste batteries given by the registered entities shall be provided for the type and quantity of the battery recycled or refurbished. Also, this can be transacted to meet Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)obligations. CPCB will offer the issuance of such certificates on the online portal.
• Entities involved in the refurbishment and/or waste battery recycling business, registered as per these rules, must offer a waste battery processing certificate.
• Recyclers must adhere to the minimum recovery of battery materials, as mentioned in the table below.

• CPCB generates the EPR certificates via a centralised online portal depending on the refurbished or recycled quantities assigned to recyclers. The recyclers can sell the assigned EPR certificates to producers in exchange for the waste battery.
• Furthermore, the EPR certificates for recyclers must be generated based on the geographical source of the battery, like domestic or imported, the weight of the battery processed and the percentage fulfilment of material recovery targets for a particular year.
• The certificates will remain valid for seven years to meet the norms set for the producers.
• The recyclers will submit and record all transactions on the online portal while filing quarterly returns.

Other designated roles and responsibilities

• CPCB must issue norms for environmentally sound processes of storage, collection, refurbishment, transportation and recycling of waste batteries.
• The SPCB must register a battery recycling business entity through an online portal in Form 2(B).
• The funds collected under Environmental Compensation shall be kept in a separate escrow account by Central Pollution Control Board or State Pollution Control Board.
• The funds must be used to collect and recycle nonrecycled and uncollected waste batteries against which environmental compensation is imposed.

Centralised Online Portal

• The system must guarantee a process wherein the material balance of waste battery as per EPR obligations of producers is reflected. Further, it must also reflect the details related to the audit of the producers and entities involved in the battery recycling business.
• CPCB must create an online system for filing returns and registration by recyclers and producers of waste batteries within six months of the commencement of these BWM rules.
• The online portal would serve as a single-point data repository related to the guidelines and orders to implement these rules.
• The SPCB must also use the online portal of CPCB used for the registration of producers to register units involved in waste battery recycling.

Why is the battery recycling business important?

The battery recycling business involves processing waste batteries. The aim is to ensure you can reuse them rather than dispose of them. Indeed, this is very important as it reduces the significant count of improperly discarded batteries.

Besides, the practice protects the environment against the harmful effects of the toxic substances in discarded batteries. In addition, with recycling, there is less requirement for new battery production, thereby contributing to the world’s material waste

The New Battery Waste Management Rules, 2023: Roles and Responsibilities

The New Battery Waste Management Rules, 2023, in India, aim to establish a comprehensive framework for responsible battery waste management. Here’s a breakdown of the key roles and responsibilities for different stakeholders:

1. Producers and Importers (PIBOs):

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): PIBOs, including domestic battery manufacturers, assemblers, and importers, are the primary focus of the EPR framework. They are responsible for the environmentally sound management of used batteries throughout their life cycle.
• Registration: PIBOs must register with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) through an online portal (details still under development).
• Collection and Recycling: EPR mandates PIBOs to establish or participate in collection and recycling systems for used batteries. This might involve setting up collection points, collaborating with recyclers, or utilizing designated take-back mechanisms.
• Financial Assurance: PIBOs might be required to provide financial guarantees or insurance to ensure their commitment to EPR obligations.
• Reporting: PIBOs must submit periodic reports to the CPCB detailing their battery production/import volumes, waste collection efforts, and recycling achievements.

2. Recyclers:

• Collection and Processing: Recyclers play a crucial role in collecting used batteries from various sources and employing appropriate technologies to extract valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
• Compliance with Regulations: Recyclers must adhere to environmental regulations governing the handling and processing of hazardous waste, including used batteries.
• Record Keeping: Recyclers are required to maintain comprehensive records of their operations, including the quantity and type of used batteries received, processed materials recovered, and final disposal methods.

3. Government:

• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): The CPCB is responsible for administering the EPR program. This includes managing the online registration portal, verifying compliance, and issuing approvals to PIBOs.
• Policy Development and Monitoring: The government plays a crucial role in developing and monitoring the effectiveness of the regulations. This might involve setting collection and recycling targets and introducing incentive programs for stakeholders.

4. Consumers:

• Responsible Disposal: Consumers are encouraged to dispose of used batteries responsibly at designated collection points established by PIBOs, retailers, or local authorities.
• Awareness and Education: Promoting consumer awareness about the environmental impact of improper battery disposal and responsible disposal options is crucial.

Overall, the New Battery Waste Management Rules establish a shared responsibility model. Producers and importers are financially responsible for the entire life cycle of their batteries, while recyclers play a critical role in processing used batteries and recovering valuable materials. The government sets the framework and monitors compliance, and consumers contribute by disposing of batteries responsibly. This collaborative approach aims to create a more sustainable and environmentally responsible battery ecosystem in India.