International experts have been meeting in Geneva this week to consider how best to update technical guidelines for the United Nations on recycling lead batteries.
The outcome of the small intersessional working group meeting will go for consideration by the 14th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group, to be held in June in Geneva. New guidelines are expected to be agreed at the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (COP) in 2025. Any new guidelines covering lithium-ion and other battery chemistry will be dealt with at a later COP.
Dr Steve Binks, Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs at the International Lead Association, said in a briefing note the work is designed to help developing countries in particular to introduce legislation for managing battery recycling responsibly. The Basel Convention guidelines were first introduced in 2003.
Binks said they are in “desperate need of updating” to reflect best practice in recycling and changes in international laws. Recycling lithium-ion and other batteries was also discussed at the meeting and new guidelines will for the first time provide advice on environmentally sound recycling of lithium-ion batteries.
He added the UN’s technical guidelines produced under the Basel Convention controlling transboundary shipments and disposal of hazardous waste are one of the most respected resources. Policy makers and governments use them to develop national laws.
“We welcome the United Nations’ efforts to promote responsible battery recycling practices – as only by eliminating waste and pollution can the sustainability benefits of battery recycling be fully delivered,” he added.
