Standard operating procedures for lead-acid battery recycling – a new tool for regulators, inspectors, and recyclers

Many countries face severe pollution from unsound lead-acid battery recycling and various governments attempst to regulate the sector have not always been successful. One of the reasons that ULAB recyclers still pose environmental and health problems is because policymakers, inspectors and operators lack clear environmental and health criteria and guidance to differentiate responsible operations from unsound practices. To close this information gap, the Swiss-funded Sustainable Recycling Industries Project and the industry-led Material Stewardship Initiative have developed a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering all aspects of used lead-acid battery management. The SOPs use a common structure and are supported with pictures illustrating good practices and common shortcomings. The SOPs have been developed for the Ghanaian Environmental Protection Agency but will be made available for use by government agencies and organizations in other countries.

Presenters

Mr Andreas Manhart Senior Researcher, Oeko-Institut, Germany

Andreas Manhart is Senior Research at Oeko-Institut, a non-profit value driven research institute based in Germany. Andreas Manhart has been working on e-waste and battery recycling projects since 2008 and particularly looks at challenges and solutions around managing worst polluting waste types in low- and middle-income countries. He maintains a broad network of partner organizations from civil society, industry, academia and policymaking in African countries. Amongst others, he coordinated cooperation projects for UNEP, GIZ, KfW, the World Resources Forum, The World Economic Forum and the Global Battery Alliance.