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Unearthing the Battery Waste Management Rules for Sustainable Living

Abstract:

The article explores the intricacies of the Battery Waste Management Rules of 2024 by understanding the nuances. It has been observed that battery waste significantly increases the number of pollutants released into the environment. Primarily released in 2022 and after its implementation, it was subjected to changes and amendments that were finally released and in force from the release date itself. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued the notification for the same, and it was one of the most essential steps towards a better and more sustainable lifestyle. It further questions the need for amendment and the solutions on which one can work to help the cause.

 

What is Battery Waste Management?

Batteries are one of the most aiding products used as portable devices in the electrical industry and have been in demand for a long. It is a practice wherein several practices are used, from the collection, transportation, and recycling of batteries to their safe disposal. Batteries usually comprise heavy metals such as lithium, mercury, cadmium, and lead. Its main aim in waste management is to dispose of hazardous material safely.

 

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The need for Battery Waste Management

Battery waste management in India is essential because improper disposal of batteries releases toxic chemicals. It is a constant threat to the environment and is causing immense harm to the environment. The pollutants harm the human body immensely as they end up in landfills.  Moreover, a license was introduced to back the same by law. In this manner, the company can display its sheer dedication towards a clean and better living for the country’s citizens. As said, the CEO should not be called Chief Executive Officer but rather the Chief Environment Officer, who also acts as a responsible citizen.  Almost a decade ago, the ministry announced hazardous waste management, which the manufacturers prescribed to collect and recycle. A National project was launched in 2019 that promotes eco-friendly practices and encourages sustainable living. Waste management prevents harm to the environment and can help extract certain metals back, which could be reused to produce new ones. It is not just in India, but at a global level, that this problem is being addressed, and the European Council has continuously worked towards it to make ends meet. The primary decision included making the consumer aware. The idea behind the decision was to increase transparency by introducing a labeling system and giving consumers the freedom to purchase.

Looking towards the growing need and global engagement, India also introduced a bill in 2022 that had certain flaws, such as:


i. Lack of Information, i.e., the labels did not reveal the composition of the chemicals in the batteries. 

ii. There was no clear discharge of any budget for manufacturers in this particular field.

iii. No safety standards are being introduced.

iv. Overshadowing the chemical composition of the battery.


Now, all these have to be addressed in order to have a comprehensive and effective action plan. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), on March 14, 2024, issued the Battery Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024. They introduced several things, including extended producer responsibility. Producers had to work on the lines provided and were granted the liberty to appoint any entity, if required, to collect the battery waste.


A few significant changes introduced through the amendment in 2024 were the definition of battery, which now clearly mentions that it no longer includes battery components. It made it mandatory for the producers to submit an annual production report. Alongside making the laws stringent, the ministry has curated the rules to make the manufacturer duty-bound and a mandatory protocol to provide each pack of batteries with an EPR.

Whatever the scenario, but at the ground level, one can work on the 3 R’s, i.e., Reduce, Recharge, and Recycle. Now, all the 3 Rs have their positives and negatives. Herein, the most important thing is to recharge; rechargeable batteries are better than one-time battery cells any day, which any average Indian will throw away after its utilization without even giving it a second thought. Rechargeable batteries offer many benefits, such as being economical, preventing waste creation, preventing resources from being exploited, and environmental protection, which is the most important of all. Batteries are an essential part of every age group, be it for toys for toddlers or hearing aid machines for the elderly. The use of batteries cannot be defied, but we can condemn the usage and try to practice the 3Rs.

 

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*This article is authored by Moulika Sharma, Student of Symbiosis Law School, Noida and reviewed by Sanya Kaushik, Associate Editor, Lawpinion.


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