Battery Waste Management Rules 2023 Laid Down

The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has issued Battery Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2023 (BWMR 2023).

The BWMR 2023 lays down the mandatory waste battery collection, recycling or refurbishment targets for electric vehicles battery of three wheelers, including E-rickshaw, categories L5, L5-M, L5-N, E-cart.

Compliance Cycle: 2026-27, 2032-33

For the year 2026-2027, the mandatory waste battery collection target and 100% of refurbishment or
recycling of the collection target in terms of weight, must be at least 70% of the quantity of battery placed in the market in 2021-22.

In 2027-2028, battery waste collection must be minimum 70% of the quantity of battery placed in the market in 2022-23, while for 2028-2029, minimum 70% of the quantity of battery placed in the market in 2023-24 and for 2029-2030, at least 70% of the quantity of battery placed in the market in 2024-25 has been stipulated.

For 2030-2031, 2031-2032 and 2032-2033, it has been defined as minimum 70% of the quantity of battery placed in the market in 2025-26, at least 70% of the quantity of battery placed in the market in 2026-27 and minimum 70% of the quantity of battery placed in the market in 2027-28.

The rules state that collection of 100% waste battery and of 100% of refurbishment or recycling shall be mandatory by end of seven year compliance cycle (end of 7th year) against the battery placed in the market during seven year compliance cycle.  It also indicates that there may be a carry forward of up to 60% of the average quantity of battery placed in the market per year during the seven year cycle to the next compliance cycle.

For 2033-34 till 2039-40 and onwards, battery waste collection must be a minimum 70% of the quantity of battery placed in the market in the fifth preceding financial year (i.e. 2028-29) and onwards. For this, collection of 100% waste battery and of 100% of refurbishment or recycling shall be mandatory by end of seven year compliance cycle (end of 7th year) against the battery placed in the market during seven year compliance cycle. However, there may be a carry forward of up to 60% of the average quantity of battery placed in the market per year during the seven year cycle to the next compliance cycle.

The BWMR 2022 made collection of 100% waste battery and 100% refurbishment or recycling mandatory by end of fourteen year compliance as opposed to the seven year compliance cycle this year.

Indian firms have begun to take battery recycling seriously and taking initiatives proactively towards it. Some firms delving in the segment are RecycleKaro, Lohum among others.

The lithium-ion battery recycling market was valued at USD 6.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 35.1 billion by 2031.