Battery Waste Recycling Plant Setup

There are multiple types of batteries and over time the usage of these batteries is only increased. Setting up a Battery Recycling Plant Setup is a great opportunity to generate income by recycling waste batteries. These waste batteries are available in bulk from old vehicles, electronic devices, power storage devices etc. There are different methods used to recycle each kind of battery. All the Battery Waste Recycling Plant Owners and other involved stakeholders in the management of battery waste need to adhere to the Battery Waste Management Rules of 2022. Accordingly, they need to obtain Battery Waste Management Authorisation and follow the EPR compliances for the recyclers.

What is Battery Waste?

A battery means a cell, battery, or its components that produce energy by direct conversion of chemical energy. All disposable primary or secondary cells are also covered under the definition of battery. When these batteries reach their end of life, they generate battery waste. In a Battery Waste Recycling Plant, these batteries can be recycled and useful materials from these waste batteries are recovered which further can be used in the production of new batteries. Expired, discarded, and pre-consumer off-spec batteries are also considered waste batteries under the Battery Waste Management Rules.

The recycling of Battery Waste provides various benefits. Some major benefits are as follows-

• It saves the environment from the harmful effects of waste batteries.
• It saves resources as the end products of the recycling process can be utilised as raw materials for new batteries.
• It uses less energy to obtain the raw materials from the waste batteries in comparison to the natural ores.
• The low energy usage results in a decrease in GHG emissions which is responsible for climate change.
• It provides employment opportunities.
• It also saves funds for the manufacturers as recycled raw materials are available at a lesser rate than fresh raw materials.

There are many types of batteries based on the materials used in their manufacturing. Mostly nickel, cobalt, lithium and lead are used in these batteries. Some popular types are as follows-

• Lead Acid Battery

This type of battery utilises Lead as the primary material for the electrodes and sulphuric acid is used as an electrolyte. The usage of Lead and Sulphuric Acid makes them Lead Acid Batteries. These batteries have a long history and are widely used in vehicles to start the engine. But due to their inefficiency, electric vehicles don’t use this type of battery.

• Lithium Ion Battery

Lithium Ion Batteries are the ones in which lithium ions move between the positive and negative electrodes to produce electricity. It has a lithium cathode and graphite anode. These batteries are the most widely used in electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Apart from automobiles, these batteries are also used in renewable storage systems.

• Nickel Based Battery

In this type of battery, nickel is used as the primary metal. These batteries are of two types Nickel Cadmium Batteries and Nickel Metal Hydride. In Nickel-Cadmium Batteries have electrodes of Nickel and Cadmium and the alkaline electrolyte is used as an electrolyte. On the other hand, Nickel Metal Hydride has a hydrogen-absorbing alloy instead of cadmium.

Requirements for Battery Waste Recycling Plant Setup

You can establish and operate a Battery Waste Recycling Plant if you are ready to put in the necessary investment and follow the rules and regulations made for battery waste recycling. You must be eligible to get the necessary documents required for business registration and operating a recycling facility. The major requirements include the need for valid premises in an industrial area, sufficient investment, and necessary equipment.

The Battery Recycling Plant poses environmental risks due to the use of hazardous waste, chemicals, batteries, and treatment processes. Therefore, authorities closely monitor these facilities and require them to comply with regulations, obtain necessary documents, and adhere to relevant rules. The essential documents needed for setting up a Lithium Ion Battery Recycling Plant in India include-

• Aadhaar and PAN of the Responsible Person
• Business Registration (MSME, Partnership, CIN, etc.)
• PAN Card of the Company
• GST Registration of the Company
• Memorandum of Association (MoA) and Articles of Association (AoA) of the Company
• Factory Licence
• Trade Licence
• Consent to Establish
• Consent to Operate
• NOCs from Local Authorities
• One-time Registration under Battery Waste Management Rules
• Authorization under the Hazardous Waste Management Rules
• Registration with the District Industries Centre (DIC)

The complete procedure of the Battery Waste Recycling Plant Setup includes the following steps and can be divided into three stages-

Stage 1:- Permissions for Battery Waste Recycling Plant

In this stage, you need to obtain the necessary permits from the authorities for the battery waste recycling plant setup. It includes Consent from the State Pollution Control Board.

• In states, there are SPCBs while in Union Territory there are Pollution Control Committees to issue consent to the establishment and the consent to operate your recycling facility.
• You need to obtain Battery Waste authorization from the CPCB Portal Online.
• Some of the waste battery types are also considered hazardous waste and for their recycling, you need to obtain Hazardous Waste Management Rules.
• Further, acquire No-Objection Certificates from the local administration such as the Fire Department, City Planning Department etc.

Stage 2:- Operations of Battery Waste Recycling Plant

At this stage, you need to ensure the operations by following due diligence. It includes the acquisition of machinery, human resources and plant operations.

• You should choose a location where goods can easily be transported from suppliers of waste batteries and further to the consumers of end products.
• The location must also be in an industrial area as permitted by the local authorities.
• Machinery must be chosen based on the battery type you are recycling and the size of the supply. Different recycling methods are required for different batteries.
• Human Resources must be managed as per the provisions of the Factory Act and Labour Laws. They must be provided with the prescribed rights and facilities.
• Collect the end products after the process of recycling which you can later sell to the battery manufacturers and earn profit.

Responsibilities of Recyclers under Battery Waste Management Rules

Once you have acquired the permissions and started the operations, you also need to take care of some responsibilities that are prescribed to the recyclers under the Battery Waste Management Rules.

• Ensure the application of Hazardous Waste and Battery Waste Management Rules.
• Follow CPCB Guidelines in the processes taking place in the Battery Waste Recycling Plant.
• Manage waste generated during the process according to respective waste management rules.
• Waste Batteries attached to a collected appliance shall be removed by the recyclers.
• Filing of quarterly returns on the number of recycled batteries along with the details of business entities.
• Recyclers of waste batteries should not deal with any entity that is not registered on the portal of the Central Pollution Control Board.
• Entities involved in recycling should generate certificates for recycled waste batteries.
• All EPR surplus transactions should also be recorded and submitted to the CPCB portal by the recyclers.

The cost for the battery waste recycling plant includes the rent or purchase of the land, purchase of machinery, wages of workers, completing documentation and their time-to-time renewal. The cost of machinery varies based on the capacity. Consent cost starts from five hundred rupees and goes up depending on the investment amount of your business and the state you are operating in. While the EPR Authorisation for Battery Waste fee starts from ten thousand rupees and increases based on the annual turnover of the business.

Validity and Renewal of Documents

The documents obtained for establishing a battery waste recycling plant also need to be updated from time to time. They should be renewed before the date of expiry. For Battery Waste Recycling Plant Registration at the Central Pollution Control Board, the fee for renewal is the same as the fee for registration.

Running a business on the track of growth not only demands infrastructure or capital but also compliance with the rules and regulations of the country. This is where Corpseed comes into the picture. With years of experience and extensive knowledge of various waste management laws applicable in India, our team at Corpseed understands the procedures involved in the process of Battery Waste Recycling Plant Setup. To assist our clients in their businesses and comply with applicable rules, we conduct desk-based research, documentation, and coordination. Corpseed is a one-stop solution for all your business needs.