Reverse Logistics for Batteries in Brazil
Reverse logistics are a requirement in a world where industries cannot afford to set aside waste that could still be useful in the production cycle. Driven by this and by a strong environmental concern, mandatory reverse logistics systems for batteries are being implemented in Brazil.
Batteries contain various chemicals that are harmful to people such as nickel, lead, cadmium, zinc and mercury. Even so, recycling batteries is not a common practice in Brazil. In fact, according to Sponge - which is a company that tracks reusable products - only 1% of batteries that are consumed are recycled or disposed correctly in Brazil.
Although the number stated above makes a strong case for the lack of battery recycling in Brazil, it is necessary to say that lead-acid batteries - those used in cars - follow a different trend: according to PRAC, the Shared Environmental Responsibility Program, around 80% of all lead-acid batteries are recycled in Brazil.
Overview of Governmental Program
In 2011, the Brazilian government created the Advisory Committee for Implementation of Reverse Logistics Systems, or CORI. It is composed of the following Ministries:
- Environment - the President of the Committee
- Health
- Treasury
- Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, MAPA
- Industry and Foreign Trade, MDIC
The main goal of the Advisory Committee is to set specific rules for the return of waste to certain industrial sectors, since some of the waste can be recycled into reusable materials. With this, the government hopes to implement reverse logistic systems in many industry sectors where this practice will contribute to the production cycle.
The Advisory Committee created five technical thematic groups in 2010 that are responsible for discussing and enforcing the implementation of the reverse logistic systems in their respective sectors. These sectors, which were viewed as a priority by the government, are:
- Disposal of drugs and medication
- Packaging in general
- Packaging of lubricating oils and of their residues
- Fluorescent, sodium vapor, mercury and mixed light lamps
- Electronics and their components
IBAMA
Prior to CORI’s creation, it was up to IBAMA, the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, to regulate how the disposal of harmful waste would be done. IBAMA requires that manufacturers of batteries in Brazil prepare and submit a management plan for the disposal and transport of the batteries.
This plan must be submitted to IBAMA through CTF, which is the Federal Technical Registry of Potentially Polluting Activities or Users of Environmental Resources. Templates for management plans, as well as for the reporting of activities to IBAMA, can be found and must be submitted to IBAMA’s CTF, available in this link.
When registering with CTF, it is necessary to provide the following information concerning the collection of used batteries:
- Name and address of pickup points
- Packaging for the transport of used batteries
- Collected waste and total weight collected
- Collection frequency
The CNPJ of the legal entity, or the CPF in the case of individuals, responsible for the transportation of batteries to their place of disposal must also be provided. The CNPJ of the company hired for recycling or for disposing of the batteries, as well as the type of residue and weight that is collected are also to be stated.
IBAMA also states that all shops that trade batteries, as well as repair service operators authorized by the manufacturers or importers of these products must be prepared to receive used batteries and to convey them to a place where their disposal is environmentally appropriate which will be provided by the manufacturer or the importer. Batteries must then be packed in order to prevent leaks and environmental contamination or risk to human health.
Electronics’ Reverse Logistics Systems in Brazil
The technical thematic group responsible for enforcing reverse logistic systems for batteries and electronics in general is GTT04, which is coordinated by MDIC. As of 2015, there is still no approved mechanism at a federal level, enforced by MDIC and GTT04, although there are four proposals that are waiting on public consultation to be approved and put into practice.
ABINEE Recebe Pilhas
ABINEE, which is the Brazilian Association of the Electronics Industries, created a plan for implementing reverse logistics for the batteries industry in 2011. This program provides for the collection of used batteries throughout Brazil, as well as the forwarding to a proper destination for their disposal or recycling.
It is up to GM&C, a logistics company hired by the legal manufacturers and importers of batteries, to transport these products. Suzaquim Indústria Química, is the company responsible for receiving all used batteries that are collected in Brazil and are located in the state of São Paulo. In fact, despite the program being intended for Brazil as a whole, it is much more effectively implemented in the state of São Paulo, more specifically in the state capital.
Through various partnerships in the retail sector, there are more than 1.000 pickup points spread throughout Brazil’s state capitals and larger cities, with almost 600 being in the state of São Paulo alone. A complete map of ABINEE’s pickup points is available here. Once the pickup point has collected more than 30kg in used batteries, the shop responsible for it can call GM&C and request that they be removed.
Since it is up to the manufacturers and importers of batteries to cover the costs of the reverse logistics process, the collected batteries are divided into two groups: the ones that are products of companies associated with ABINEE and those that are not. The companies associated with ABINEE that participate in this program are:
- Bic
- Carrefour
- Duracell
- Energizer
- Elgin
- Kodak
- Panasonic
- Philips
- Pleomax
- Qualita
- Rayovac
- Red Force
In the case of batteries from companies that are not associated with ABINEE, they are divided in two more categories: regular and nonregular. If the collected batteries are regular, the company will be notified by ABINEE for covering part of the process costs. If the collected batteries are nonregular, IBAMA, the Federal Police, the Federal Revenue Service and the Ministry of Environment will be informed, who will act accordingly.
Other Major Programs
Of the other major programs that take part in the reverse logistics process of batteries in Brazil, Programa Papa Pilhas, coordinated by the bank Santander is the largest. Being present in more than 1.000 bank agencies in the state of São Paulo, this program has already collected more than 760 tons of used batteries since its creation in 2006. A similar project by Drogaria São Paulo, a large drugstore chain, was created in 2004 and has collected around 280 tons until 2014.