UNB, Dhaka :
Although the multiple use of lead acid battery is growing fast in the country, concern is mounting among the environmentalists about its proper disposal as most manufacturers lack appropriate disposal system.
Battery industry insiders said presently, a legal binding exists with regard to battery manufacturing and disposal, but only a few follow the rules thus creating serious health hazard.
“Frequent disposal of lead acid battery at open places by battery sellers, users and manufacturers leads to serious air pollution posing a risk to human body,” said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Chief Executive of Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (BELA).
Rizwana, a Ramon Magsaysay Award winner, mentioned that when a lead acid battery is melting, it releases lead and sulphuric acid in the air.
According to Bangladesh Accumulator & Battery Manufacturers Association (BABMA), annually about 2.8 million pieces of batteries are used by different sectors in the country with its 10 percent growth rate. Of these, 420,000 pieces are used by motor vehicles, 411,000 pieces by IPS and UPS users, 150 pieces by heavy equipment of the industries, 1,050,000 pieces by electric vehicles and electric-rickshaw, and 700,000 pieces by the solar system.
Experts say lead-acid batteries are made up of plates of lead and separate plates of lead dioxide, which are submerged into an electrolyte solution of about 38 percent sulphuric acid and 62 percent water.
If the batteries are melted in open places without following modern disposal and recycling system, it interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues including heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems.
They also said lead interferes with the development of the nervous system and is, therefore, particularly toxic to children, causing potentially permanent learning and behavior disorders. Symptoms include abdominal pain, confusion, headache, anaemia, irritability, and in severe cases, seizures, coma and death.
Routes of exposure to lead include contaminated air, water, soil, food, and consumer products.
Experts said the recent introduction of solar home system and electric vehicles has given a big boost to the use of lead acid batteries which prompted a number of local firms to come into the battery manufacturing business.
At present, there are about 30 battery manufacturers, but six (6) are leading in the battery business as they hold 93 percent of the total market share while only 7 percent by the traders who import batteries and sell those locally.
Among the local manufacturers, Rahimafrooz has been leading the market with 35 percent market share, followed by Hamko with 18 percent market share. Volvo, Ramso, Rangs and some other companies are also active in the battery market.
Industry sources said, among the battery manufacturers, Rahimafrooz and some 5-6 companies have modern disposal system with environmental safety and compliances.
Of them, Rahimafrooz, meeting the compliances, has also been exporting batteries to more than 45 countries across the globe.
Waste Concern, a local NGO, conducted a survey in 2005 and found the same fact. Director and Co-founder of the Waste Concern Iftekhar Enaytullah told UNB that they found only 5-6 companies are complying with the law.
“Others have no echo-friendly disposal and recycling system. They are just violating the law through releasing lead to the open air,” he said.
The Waste Concern director suggests that IDCOL, which now deals with solar home system, should also tag a condition for the sellers of the system to use batteries of those manufacturers who are compliant with recycling rule.
On the other hand, the other manufacturers still follow the conventional way of disposing system which does not comply with environmental requirement if anyone wishes to export the product.
Some retailers, who sell and buy batteries through the roadside shops, also melt the obsolete ones and also recycle it manually, which cause serious health risk.
When contacted, Director of Department of Environment (DoE) Mahmud Hasan Khan said they are trying to ensure the mandatory compliance of law by the manufacturers. But the compliance by importers depends on the Ministry of Commerce who issue the license to the importer.
“If the Ministry of Commerce imposes a condition on the importers to ensure recycling system, then the open disposal will come under control,” he said.
