RAJASTHAN, India — Efforts to meet India's battery recycling targets are encountering significant obstacles due to high costs and logistical difficulties. Panasonic and other companies involved in recycling low-end batteries are finding it challenging to comply with the country's regulations, which threatens both environmental safety and the sourcing of critical minerals.

If lithium battery waste is not processed through India's official recycling channels, it risks being diverted to informal routes where it is often incinerated or landfilled, releasing toxic substances into the environment. Manufacturers are advocating for a slower rollout of recycling mandates as the economics of battery recovery remain weak.

These challenges highlight the complexity of establishing an effective battery recycling ecosystem in India, which is crucial for sustainable resource management and environmental protection.

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