Page 64 - CIJ Oct 2024 Digital Edition

WASTE MANAGEMENT

The Informal ULAB Ecosystem and Its
Devastating Health Consequences

Hidden Dangers

he Used Lead Acid The ULAB recycling ecosystem retailers may thus prefer selling
Battery (ULAB) can be mapped as follows. Customers ULABs to the unregulated sector.
ecosystem in India purchase new batteries from retailers, Both kinds of recyclers extract the
plays a crucial role choosing between branded/formal lead and plastic from the batteries,
Tin managing waste batteries and generic/informal with vastly different health and
while promoting recycling and batteries based on their respective environmental consequences.
sustainability. A comprehensive study prices and quality. They then sell Regulated recyclers supply lead to
on understanding the Used Lead Acid the used battery to the retailers for formal battery remanufacturers, while
Battery (ULAB) ecosystem in India a discount on the purchase of a new unregulated recyclers supply the lead
was recently published by Pahle India battery, because of the deposit-
Foundation (PIF). While the sample refund scheme (DRS) in place. They to informal battery manufacturers.
size was understandably small and may also choose to sell the ULAB The lead extracted by unregulated
restricted to one city in the country, to a door-to-door garbage collector recyclers is typically of lower purity
the findings that emerged are startling, or kabadiwala, in return for cash and cheaper. The remanufacturers then
given a highly active unorganised payment. Unsurprisingly, the prospect rebuild the batteries and sell them to
sector in the recycling battery disposal of an upfront payment in cash rather retailers.
business that endangered workers, than a discount on a new battery, as The informal or unregulated
their families and the environment well as the convenience of door-to- recycling process is often carried
with exposure to lead poisoning. out in densely populated areas, with
All this, when a lead battery’s main door collection, are highly appealing little to no pollution control or safety
components, namely lead, plastic and to consumers. precautions. In the typical informal
acid, are almost 100% recyclable, with Retailers too may be approached recycling process, the used battery
lead capable of being recycled almost by two types of recyclers, formal and cases are broken open using a machete
infinitely with no loss of performance. informal. Retailers choose to give it or axe, the electrolyte (sulphuric acid)
Clean India Journal provides a to a regulated or unregulated recycler is dumped on the ground or into a
summarised extract of the study as based on the payment they receive sewer, the lead plates are removed by
follows. for the used batteries. Unregulated hand, and the separators are disposed
Industries and even green initiatives recyclers typically offer higher prices of in a landfill. The lead plates are
depend heavily on lead-acid batteries and a higher purchase frequency, melted using a heat source, and the
which are used in automobiles, trucks given the dense collection network molten lead is then scooped out and
and other motorised vehicles for SLI of the informal sector, allowing the poured into moulds to be sold to
(starting, lighting and ignition), as retailer to benefit from lower storage refiners and battery makers. Open
well as in power backup systems in costs and tax elimination. Many smelting of lead, open disposal of the
telecommunications, railways, metro
systems, hospitals, data centres, and
industry, where uninterrupted power
supply (UPS) is a necessity. They also
play a crucial role in renewable energy
systems.
Solar panels and wind turbines use
lead-acid batteries to store excess
or unused energy to ensure reliable
power supply. In smaller towns and
remote areas, where grid connections
are difficult, off-grid solar activity
prevails and remains heavily reliant on
lead-acid batteries. While lithium-ion
batteries are the primary choice for
EVs, lead-acid batteries continue to
serve as auxiliary ones. They are also
used in smaller electric vehicles, such
as three-wheelers (e-rickshaws) and
some four-wheel electric cars.

OCTOBER 2024•Clean India Journal
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