The new rules are premised upon the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This rule demands that the manufacturers of the battery make provisions for the collection, disposal, and recycling of the battery. The new rule also prohibits the disposal of battery waste in landfills and incineration.
The Rules of 2022 replace the Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules of 2001 and are premised on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Extended Producer Responsibility is an approach where the producer is mandated via policy for the treatment and/or disposal of industrial waste.
According to Rule 4 of the BWM Rules 2022, every Producer and person or entity involved in the manufacture of batteries shall be required to register with the CPCB through a centralized online portal, for which an application in Form 1 (A) must be submitted to the CPCB. Producer shall file for renewal of registration in Form 1(A) before sixty days of its expiry.
According to BWM Rules, 2022, A producer is defined as an entity that manufactures and sells, sells, and imports batteries, including refurbished batteries, including in equipment, under its own brand or its own brand produced by other manufacturers or suppliers.
BWM Rules’ function is based on the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), according to which battery producers are responsible for collecting, recycling, and refurbishing waste batteries and using recovered materials from waste to make new batteries.
EPR for Producer of Battery: ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ refers to the responsibility of any Producer of Battery to manage Waste Battery in an environmentally sound manner in order to protect human health and the environment from any adverse effects that may result from any substance contained in Waste Battery.
Registration of Refurbishers and Recyclers: All refurbishers and recyclers must register with the State Pollution Control Board on the centralised portal to receive a one-time registration.
Refurbishers and recyclers must submit quarterly returns in Form 4 detailing the number of used batteries collected or received from various producers or entities, the quantity of refurbished and recycled batteries, and the quantity of hazardous and/or other waste generated after refurbishment and disposal.
These rules apply to all entities involved in the collection, segregation, transportation, refurbishment, and recycling of all types of waste batteries, including the Producer, dealer, and consumer. The rules cover all types of batteries, including portable, electric vehicles, automotive, and industrial batteries.
These rules do not apply to batteries used in equipment related to the protection of essential security interests, such as arms, ammunition, war material, and those designed specifically for military purposes; or equipment intended to be launched into space.