Answer

Introduction

India’s lithium-ion battery market is projected to reach 132 GWh by 2030, driving EV and renewable storage demand but this surge also brings a sharp rise in e-waste, especially black mass, a hazardous byproduct of battery recycling. While India recently banned black mass exports to boost critical mineral self-reliance, the domestic recycling ecosystem remains underdeveloped and fragmented.

Body

Root Causes of Rising E-Waste in India

• Rapid Technological Obsolescence: Short product lifespans and fast-paced upgrades increase disposal rates.
• Low Consumer Awareness: Lack of awareness about proper disposal and take-back programs leads to informal discarding.
• Proliferation of Electronic Goods: Growth in the digital economy and lifestyle changes lead to more per capita consumption.
  Eg: India now has over 1.2 billion mobile connections, many of which will end up as waste.
• Ineffective Producer Responsibility Compliance: Implementation of EPR under E-Waste Rules (2022) remains weak among manufacturers and importers.
• Dependence on Imports of Battery Components: Absence of local raw material extraction increases discarded imports and faulty storage.

Key Challenges Related to Lithium-ion Battery Waste

• Toxicity and Environmental Hazards: Improper handling of cobalt, nickel, and lithium leads to air, soil, and groundwater pollution.
  Eg: Studies show lithium leachates cause ecosystem disruption and groundwater contamination.
• Lack of Recycling Infrastructure: India lacks sufficient licensed facilities to handle complex battery chemistry.
• Dominance of Informal Sector: Nearly 90% is handled by the informal sector, drawn in by cost efficiency but marred by unsafe, unscientific practices such as acid leaching.
  Eg: An estimated one million waste workers operate outside regulatory frameworks, but form the backbone of collection systems.
• Absence of Black Mass Recovery Ecosystem: Black mass – the residual high-value powder after shredding batteries – remains underutilised due to lack of formal collection and processing mechanisms.
• Data Gaps and Tracking Deficiencies: Absence of a real-time tracking system for e-waste leads to leakages in the formal stream.
  

Measures to Convert Black Mass into a Strategic Green Asset

• Invest in Advanced Recycling Technologies: Support for hydrometallurgy and AI-based sorting is critical to improve efficiency and safety.
• Formalisation and Integration of Informal Sector: Upskilling and certifying waste workers can improve safe collection and formal supply chain linkage.
  Eg: Integrating 1 million informal workers can boost efficiency and reduce toxic practices.
• Strengthen Enforcement of Battery Waste Rules: Robust monitoring of recyclers, black mass producers, and exporters is essential.
  Eg: Enforcing the black mass export ban and penalising misclassification will retain strategic value domestically.
• Incentivise Domestic Recycling Through Policy Support: Introduce targeted schemes under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and PLI frameworks.
• Develop Strategic R&D Ecosystem: Boost domestic research to build indigenous capacity for critical mineral recovery.
• Align With Global Best Practices on Circular Economy: Adapt EU-style restrictions on raw material exports and circular economy frameworks.
  

Conclusion

India’s ban on black mass exports signals a shift toward mineral independence and circular economy goals, but without investment in tech, regulation, and workforce formalisation, it risks becoming a hollow step. By closing the loop with effective enforcement, strategic incentives, and innovation, India can turn its battery waste challenge into a green opportunity powering the clean energy future.

DOWNLOAD PDF