Our Approach.
Market-based policies can support safe, regulated recycling and ensure that more ULABs are recycled in these systems.
Extended Producer Responsibility makes producers and importers legally and financially responsible for the collection and safe recycling of the batteries that they bring to the market at the end of their life.
Refundable deposits schemes add a small, refundable charge to the sale of each new battery, which consumers recover when they return their used battery to an approved collection point or retailer.
Tax exemptions for the sale of ULABs lowers the operating costs for licensed recyclers and improves their competitiveness relative to unregulated facilities that generally don’t pay tax.
Targeted policies can make safe recycling the more profitable choice
INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDIES
Brazil
EPR and ULAB sales tax exemption
The Brazilian government implemented a sales tax exemption with an EPR, making formal recyclers more competitive. This halved recycling in unregistered facilities from 2005-2010.
South Africa
EPR and
deposit-return scheme
South Africa introduced an EPR scheme alongside long-standing voluntary deposit-return systems. Over 90% of ULABs in South Africa are collected and recycled formally.
USA
Mandatory
deposit-return scheme
Most U.S. states have implemented mandatory retailer-facing deposit schemes. Almost 99% of ULABs in the United States are collected and recycled formally.
LABRI PARTNERS WITH GOVERNMENTS AND INDUSTRY TO BUILD SAFER RECYCLING MARKETS
1
Policy design
We work alongside national governments to develop policy solutions, drawing on successful international examples of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Deposit-Refund Systems.
2
Evidence generation
We generate and share data on the scale, economic and health impacts of unsafe recycling at a national level to inform policy decisions and track progress.