The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for RecycIing of Lead Scrap/ Used Lead Acid Batteries. The SOP lays down requirements that units must fulfil to import Lead Scrap/ Used Lead Acid Batteries for recycling, these include –
1. Valid authorisation from concerned State Pollution Control Boards under Hazardous and Other Waste (Management &Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.
2. Registration on the EPR Portal under Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022;
3. Registration on the EPR Portal under Plastic Waste Management Rules,2016 and amendments thereof:
4. Having automatic battery breaking system having acoustic enclosure, dust and fume extraction system as well as wet separation system for lead and plastic;
5. Having mechanical facility for draining the acid from batteries into the acid collection tank; and
6. Having rotary furnace with air pollution control system .
7. Making an application in Form 5.
The SOP also lays down –
• The procedure for importing, the same must be done with pallets and it should be either stretch wrapped or shrink wrapped to the full height of the pallet stack and should be air-tight to avoid any gas within the pallets. The pallets used should have sufficient weight bearing capacity and impact resistance, be leak-proof and should be IabeIIed as acid containing material. Imported used lead acid batteries should have the caps of cells properly tightened in place at the time of transportation.
• The minimum required facilities for setting up furnaces.
• The standards for Emission /Discharge for Lead.
• Steps to minimize fugitive emissions of Lead.
• Minimum requirement for transportation of used lead acid batteries.
• The liability of any accidental spillage during generation, storage. processing, handling, transportation and disposal is on the occupier (sender or receiver) for implementing response measures, environmental site assessment and remediation of contaminated soil / groundwater / sediment etc.
A copy of the SOP has been hyperlinked below.
Source: Central Pollution Control Board
