NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: WASTE ACT 59 OF 2008: EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY SCHEME FOR THE PORTABLE BATTERY SECTOR
Notice Title National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008 (“NEMWA”): Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for the Portable Battery Sector
Government Notice: GN 3179 in GG 48283 on 23 March 2023
Commencing date: 23 April 2023
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (“the Minister”), in terms of section 18(1) and (3) of the NEMWA, requires the producers of portable batteries to implement the specified extended producer responsibility measures as identified in the Notice.
The Notice applies to the identified products listed i.e. portable batteries and the resulting waste which arises from the use by a consumer or an end user, which is distributed or intended for distribution in the Republic of South Africa.
A producer of portable batteries must set up procedures, processes and invest resources to implement the extended producer responsibility measures linked to:
(a) the collection, transportation, storage of their products in the post-consumer stage;
(b) recycling; and
(c) recovery.
The Extended Producer Responsibility applies to the following identified products or class of products: Portable battery:
(a) Alkaline / Zinc carbon batteries
(b) Primary (single use) Lithium batteries
(c) Nickel metal hydride batteries;
(d) Silver oxide batteries; and
(e) Zinc air batteries / air depolarised batteries.
The Notice must be read with the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations, 2020.
For a copy of the Government Gazette Notice click here.
How to ensure compliance at my operations?
Producers of portable batteries must establish an Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme in accordance with the provisions of the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations, 2020.
For more information or assistance please contact Jan Nel at jan@shangoni.co.za