DENR urged to use EPR regulation to producers of lead batteries

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The Federation of Philippine Industries is urging the Division of Surroundings and Pure Assets to develop the applying of the Prolonged Producer Duty (EPR) regulation to incorporate used lead acid batteries (ULAB).
The FPI is asking the DENR to challenge an administrative order mandating producers of lead acid batteries to adjust to the EPR Regulation to make sure its correct restoration and recycling.
Enacted in 2022, the Prolonged Producer Duty Act of 2022 large-scale corporations to handle their plastic packaging waste all through the life cycle of the product.

READ: Gov’t urged to ban export of used automobile batteries, lead scraps

Able paper to Surroundings Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, FPI chair Jesus Arranza mentioned the DENR ought to “strictly implement” the correct assortment and recycling of ULAB in order that entities “won’t be able to market their merchandise within the nation until they’ve satisfactorily confirmed that they’ve collected their ULABs and channeled them to accredited recyclers.”
Based on the United Nations Surroundings Programme, roughly 86 % of the entire international lead consumption is for the manufacturing of lead-acid batteries, primarily utilized in motorized autos, storage of vitality generated by photovoltaic cells and wind generators and backup energy provides.
The group mentioned recycling hazardous wastes together with ULAB requires superior technical know-how and state-of-the-art services given their quick dangerous results on the surroundings and other people.
“We consider that in comparison with strange waste sorts like plastics presently lined by the EPR implementing guidelines, ULABs needs to be handled with extra urgency due to their quick dangerous results on the surroundings and the individuals,” Arranza mentioned.
The FPI mentioned the federal government ought to help trendy recyclers in order that ULABs gained’t find yourself within the fingers of fly-by-night recyclers that function “shabby and unregulated services.”
It additionally referred to as on the federal government to require involved producers and importers to gather used lead acid batteries and transport them to accredited recyclers.
“As a lot as attainable, we’re pushing for 1 to 1. Which means that, for instance, an entity that managed to gather 1,000
ULABs ought to solely be allowed to promote 1,000 model new batteries as properly,” he mentioned.
If attaining a one-to-one ratio is unattainable, the group beneficial a phased implementation: 20 % within the first 12 months, 50 % within the second 12 months and 80 % within the third 12 months.
“This could remedy the mushrooming of unlawful lead smelters and ULAB recyclers that at the moment are working regardless of the hurt being carried out to the surroundings and the group, together with these situated in San Simon, Pampanga, Valenzuela, Tarlac, Cavite, and different elements of the nation,” the group mentioned.