PANJIM: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to register all the battery dealers in the State and to submit the inventory by mid October.
CPCB in a letter to GSPCB has asked to implement the Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules 2001 under the Environment Protection Act 1986, the primary objective of which is to channelise used lead acid batteries to registered or authorised recyclers to ensure environmentally sound recycling.
CPCB has noted that Board has not registered all the battery dealers in the State as required under the law and has also not regulated stakeholders namely manufacturers, importers, recyclers, auctioneers and bulk consumers to file half year’s returns and the inventory is also not prepared.
“Non accounting of batteries sold and recycled may lead to collection of used batteries by unauthorised persons who may sell batteries to illegal recyclers, who may recycle used batteries without obtaining authorisation under Hazardous and Other Waste (management and transboundary movement rules) 2016,” the Central Board said.
As such, the Central Board has now asked State to complete registration of battery dealers in the State and ensure that manufacturer and importer sell new lead acid batteries only through registered dealers.
It has also asked State Board to submit inventory of manufacturers, re-conditioners, assemblers, importers, dealers, auctioneers, bulk-consumers, registered recyclers on number of batteries sold and recycled.
