Who the rules apply to
The Battery Waste Management Rules 2022, notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, apply to producers of batteries, which includes manufacturers, importers and brand owners who sell batteries or equipment containing them in India. Electric vehicle batteries are a defined category, alongside portable, automotive and industrial batteries.
Recyclers and refurbishers that process waste batteries also fall within the rules and must register. Consumers, fleets and workshops are expected to hand waste batteries to registered entities rather than informal channels. The Central Pollution Control Board administers the system through a centralised online portal.
Registration and targets
Producers must register on the CPCB portal before placing batteries on the market and must report the quantities they sell. Their collection and recycling obligations are calculated from those quantities using the schedules in the rules, which set targets that rise over time and allow for the expected life of each battery category.
The rules also set minimum recovery requirements for recyclers and introduce obligations on the use of domestically recycled materials in new batteries, phased in over the coming years. Because schedules and portal procedures are updated through amendments and CPCB guidance, producers should check the current version of the rules when planning each year's compliance.
- Register on the CPCB portal before sale
- File quantities placed on the market
- Meet category-specific EPR targets each year
- File annual returns within the prescribed timelines
How EPR certificates work
Registered recyclers and refurbishers generate EPR certificates on the portal for the quantity of waste batteries they process, based on verified records. Producers then acquire those certificates to meet their obligations. The portal tracks certificate generation and transfer so that the same quantity cannot be claimed twice.
For a producer, the practical task is to secure enough certificates of the right category each year, usually through agreements with registered recyclers. Keeping records of collection, transport, processing and certificate transfers is essential, as these may be examined during audits or inspections.
| Party | Main responsibility |
|---|---|
| Producer | Register, report sales, meet EPR targets via certificates |
| Recycler | Register, process waste batteries, generate certificates, meet recovery requirements |
| Refurbisher | Register, refurbish batteries, generate certificates where permitted |
| CPCB | Operate portal, oversee compliance, levy environmental compensation |
Field note