Who Should Pay for Lead-Acid Battery Waste?

Dear Sir,
Bangladesh’s growing lead-acid battery (LAB) market raises an urgent question: who should pay for managing battery waste safely? Around 80 per cent of used LABs are recycled at illegal or informal sites, generating an estimated 167,000 metric tonnes of lead waste annually. Worse, 15-20 per cent of lead is released into the environment during recycling. Poor-quality batteries compound the problem by requiring frequent replacement and generating more waste.

The current market also favours informal recyclers, who avoid taxes and regulatory costs, while formal recyclers face higher compliance expenses. Manufacturers and businesses profiting from battery sales should therefore share responsibility for collection and recycling. Battery traceability, including RFID technology, could help monitor producers, taxes, smelting fees and recycling facilities.

The country cannot ignore this threat. Strengthening formal recycling, enforcing regulations and making producers share recycling costs are essential for a safer circular economy.