Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 27 June, 2023 has launched Environmental Compensation Funds for Battery Waste Management. Recyclers and refurbishers are directed to file quarterly returns regarding the information on quantity of waste batteries collected or received from various producers or entities, recycled/refurbished quantities, quantity of hazardous and/or other waste including solid waste or plastic waste generated after recycling/refurbishment and disposal of such quantity, and the quarterly return shall be filed by the end of the month succeeding the end of the quarter.
The environmental compensation collected under Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 shall be utilised in collection and refurbishing or recycling of uncollected and non-recycled or non-refurbished waste batteries. The modalities for utilisation of the funds for waste batteries management would be recommended by the Committee for Implementation, constituted under the rules, for the approval of Central Government. Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 were notified on 22nd August, 2022. The last date for filing of annual returns towards fulfilling obligations under Extended Producer Responsibility is 30th June, 2023 in respect of FY 2022-23.
