Although strict battery waste rules have been put in place for years now, almost 90% of lead-acid batteries are recycled by the informal sectors using unhealthy and unregulated practices. Reports suggest that more than 30,000 informal battery recycling sites are in active operation worldwide. As a consequence, lead, the primary heavy metal in batteries, leaks into the environment, causing more damage than you know. Very few people are aware that lead is reckoned as a potential neurotoxin. Unfortunately, even the slightest exposure to the metal decreases IQ scores and attention span, mostly in children. Hence, eminent PROs like Karo Sambhav are dedicated to streamlining battery waste recycling in an organised, controlled, and strategic manner.

Battery waste needs proper handling because batteries can contain materials that may harm soil, water, and the surrounding environment when they are dumped with regular household waste. Recycling is a better approach because useful materials can be recovered and reused in manufacturing. For businesses and consumers, the best practice is to collect used batteries separately and take them to approved recycling or collection facilities. Clear disposal guidelines and greater public awareness can also help reduce improper battery disposal and support more responsible waste management.

Battery Waste Rules are designed to promote the safe collection, recycling, refurbishment, and environmentally sound disposal of used batteries. In India, the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 replaced the earlier Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001 and apply to various battery categories, including electric vehicle, portable, automotive, and industrial batteries.

A key feature of these rules is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which makes producers and importers responsible for meeting collection and recycling or refurbishment targets for batteries placed on the market. The rules also support recycling, recovery of valuable materials, and reduced dependence on new raw materials. Waste batteries are intended to be directed to authorized recycling or refurbishment systems rather than landfills or incineration.

Overall, the Battery Waste Management Rules support a circular economy by improving accountability, encouraging responsible battery disposal, and creating a structured system for producers, recyclers, and refurbishers through the CPCB's centralized EPR framework.