India’s growing electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage demand has intensified concerns about battery waste.

India’s EV and renewable growth will raise lithium battery demand from 4 GWh in 2023 to 139 GWh by 2035. 

What is Battery Waste?

• Definition: Battery waste refers to discarded batteries, particularly lithium-ion, containing hazardous chemicals and valuable minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
• Major Sources of Battery Waste: 
• • Electric vehicles (EVs)
  • Consumer electronics (mobiles, laptops)
  • Renewable energy storage (BESS)
  • Lead-acid batteries (industrial & automotive)
• Improper disposal leads to soil and water contamination, while efficient recycling can reduce mineral imports and support a circular economy.
• In 2022, lithium batteries contributed 700,000 tonnes of India’s 1.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste.

Initiatives for Battery Waste Management in India

• Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Amendment Rules, 2003: First inclusion of hazardous materials in e-waste composition via regulatory coverage.
• E-Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2011: Introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) via formal rules.
• E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016: Added the concept of Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) via legal framework.
• E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022: Mandates Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for producers to fund collection, transportation, and recycling of batteries.
  • Promotes resource recovery and a closed-loop value chain to support India’s Net Zero target by 2070.
  • The Rules are amended regularly to address the emerging challenges with Battery waste management.
• E-Waste (Management) Second Amendment Rules, 2023: Clearer exemptions for reduction of hazardous substances via explicit provisions.
  • Determination of conversion factors for EPR certification generation via prescribed methodology.
  • Management of refrigerants by producers via mandatory guidelines.
• E-Waste (Management) Amendment Rules, 2024: Relaxation of return/report filing timelines (max 9 months) via amendment for manufacturers, producers, refurbishers, or recyclers.
  • Platforms for EPR certificate exchange/transfer to be set up via central government notification.
  • EPR certificate prices regulated via CPCB-fixed highest & lowest limits.
• The Battery Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2025: Producers must display EPR registration via barcode/QR code on batteries, equipment, or packaging and print it in brochures, with CPCB maintaining a quarterly updated list.
  • Marking of chemical symbols ‘Cd’ (Cadmim) or ‘Pb’ (Lead) is exempted if metal concentrations are below specified limits (less than or equal to 0.004% (40 ppm) for Pb and 0.002% (20 ppm) for Cd).
• EPR Floor Pricing Mechanism: Ensures recyclers receive minimum compensation covering collection, processing, and material recovery costs, enabling sustainable battery recycling.
  • It is decided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in India.
  • It aims to make recycling financially viable and discourage informal dumping practices.

Challenges with India’s Battery Waste Management

• Inadequate EPR Floor Price: Current proposals undervalue recycling costs, making operations unsustainable for legitimate recyclers.
  • Informal recyclers thrive, issuing false certificates or dumping hazardous waste, mirroring failures in plastic waste management.
• Environmental and Economic Risks: Improper recycling risks environmental degradation through leaching of toxic substances.
  • By 2030, inadequate recycling could cost India over $1 billion in foreign exchange due to mineral import dependence.
• Weak Compliance and Enforcement: Large manufacturers often resist compliance, applying lower standards in developing markets.
  • Lack of robust audits and digital tracking fosters fraud and non-compliance.
• Informal Sector Dominance: Informal recyclers lack proper training and infrastructure, leading to unsafe practices and loss of valuable resources.
  

Way Forward

• Recalibrate EPR Floor Price: Align prices with global standards (e.g., ₹600/kg in the U.K.) to cover full recycling costs while remaining market-driven over time.
  • Ensure Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) absorb costs without passing them to consumers, leveraging savings from falling global metal prices.
• Strengthen Enforcement: Digitise EPR certificate issuance and tracking, implement third-party audits, and impose strict penalties for non-compliance.
• Integrate Informal Recyclers: Provide training, regulatory support, and incentives to bring informal workers into the formal ecosystem, expanding recycling capacity safely.
• Foster Industry Collaboration: Promote dialogue among policymakers, producers, and recyclers to create a resilient recycling framework supporting green growth and India’s circular economy goals.

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