Battery Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2025, Strengthen EPR and Circular Economy Goals

On 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified the Battery Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2025, revising the earlier 2022 framework. These amendments aim to strengthen environmental safeguards, improve accountability, and align India’s battery waste management with circular economy principles.

Core Regulatory Objectives

The 2025 amendments are designed to:

• Enhance accountability for producers, refurbishers, and recyclers
• Improve traceability and oversight of battery waste flows
• Maximize recovery of critical raw materials from end-of-life batteries
• Minimize health and environmental risks from improper battery disposal

Expanded Scope and Applicability

The revised rules apply to all battery categories, including:

• Portable batteries
• Automotive batteries
• Electric vehicle (EV) batteries
• Industrial batteries

Additional obligations now extend to e-commerce platforms and battery-related service providers, reflecting a comprehensive approach across the supply chain.

Strengthening of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

The amendment reinforces the EPR framework with key changes:

• Producers must achieve collection and recycling targets based on the quantity of batteries introduced to the market
• All entities must report compliance via a centralized online portal operated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
• Non-compliance may lead to penalties under the Environmental Compensation mechanism

Oversight and Enforcement Enhancements

Robust mechanisms have been introduced to ensure compliance:

• Digital traceability systems to track battery flow across the lifecycle
• Third-party audits to verify reporting accuracy
• Monitoring by CPCB and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), including the possibility of surprise inspections

Advancing Circular Economy Goals

The rules prioritize resource efficiency by mandating:

• Higher recycling and recovery rates
• Recovery of strategic metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel
• Promotion of reuse and refurbishment practices

These measures are intended to reduce reliance on virgin materials and build a closed-loop battery value chain in India.

Implications for Stakeholders

For Producers and Importers

• Update EPR plans in accordance with the new targets
• Ensure registration with CPCB and timely compliance reporting

For Recyclers and Refurbishers

• Meet revised material recovery benchmarks
• Maintain auditable and transparent documentation

For Consumers

• Dispose of used batteries through authorized collection channels
• Support safe recycling and environmentally responsible practices

Toward Sustainable Battery Lifecycle Management

The 2025 amendments to India’s Battery Waste Management Rules represent a decisive step in promoting a cleaner, resource-efficient battery ecosystem. Through enhanced EPR, traceability, and recovery requirements, India reaffirms its commitment to environmental stewardship and a sustainable future for energy storage technologies.

Reference: CPCB – Battery Waste Management Rules