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Lead-acid batteries power the vast majority of cars, motorcycles, and solar home systems across Southeast Asia. These batteries are highly recyclable, with virtually every component recoverable if handled correctly. However, most countries in the region lack the formal infrastructure to process used lead-acid batteries (ULABs) safely at scale, and the facilities that do exist often operate without appropriate safeguards.

How used lead-acid batteries move through Malawi’s economy, why so much processing happens unsafely, and the policy options that could help to change it. 44% of children aged 0–14 have blood lead above 5 µg/dL (IHME, 2021) ~2,083 t of used lead-acid batteries are produced in Malawi each year ~27% estimated to be processed in unregistered facilities 0 legal, registered lead smelters or battery manufacturers Unsafe lead-acid battery recycling is, at its core, a market problem.

For the last couple of months, LABRI has been studying the effects of extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes on waste collection and recycling. This blog post summarises part of the research that we conducted about the EPR scheme that was recently implemented in Singapore for e-waste (including ICT equipment, light bulbs, and large appliances).

Message from Co-Founders The last quarter has been a period of exciting growth at LABRI, marked by two particular milestones. First, we hired our first team mate, Bernard, in the Philippines and then quickly hired another, Beth, in the UK. Bringing on these new team mates marks an important shift in focus from us, from (for most of 2025) research and idea development to implementation and engagement. It has also already brought a new burst of energy and ideas to the organisa

Message from Co-Founders We are extremely excited to share our first newsletter with you. We started the Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Initiative (LABRI) in April and we are hugely grateful for the advice, time and resources that countless people have provided us with over this time. These newsletters are our way to keep you in the loop as we work to combat childhood lead exposure now and in the years to come. The last nine months or so have been a whirlwind. We conducted our s