Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR) Clarification on Battery Recycling

Stakeholder Consultation on EPR Clarifications for Battery Recycling in India

As India accelerates its transition toward electric mobility and energy storage, the need for a robust and transparent battery recycling ecosystem has become increasingly critical. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) under the Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR) plays a central role in ensuring environmentally sound disposal, recycling, and reuse of batteries across the value chain. However, stakeholders continue to face ambiguity around compliance obligations, implementation mechanisms, and role definitions.

In this context, NETRA is convening a focused stakeholder consultation to deliberate on EPR applicability across the battery ecosystem—including cell manufacturers, battery pack assemblers, EV OEMs, importers, brand owners, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) developers, and battery-as-a-service providers. The session aims to bring clarity on regulatory expectations while addressing practical challenges faced by industry players.

A key objective of the consultation is to decode Producer Responsibility obligations under EPR, particularly in complex value chains involving multiple stakeholders and cross-border supply flows. Discussions will also explore compliance pathways, reporting requirements, and traceability mechanisms aligned with CPCB guidelines.

The consultation will further serve as a platform to identify policy gaps, operational bottlenecks, and areas requiring regulatory refinement. By gathering industry insights and recommendations, NETRA aims to support evidence-based inputs to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

This dialogue is expected to play a crucial role in shaping a practical, enforceable, and industry-aligned EPR framework—ensuring sustainable battery life-cycle management while supporting India’s circular economy and clean energy goals.