1. Regional workshop Lead Batteries´ Environmentally Sound Management Guidelines Bratislava (Slovak Republic), March 2014
Environmentally sound management of lead batteries in the Syrian Arab Republic
Dimitris Tsotsos
Chemical/Environmental Engineer (MSc)

2. DOCUMENTATION Assessment of state of the art
Proposals for policy reforms

3. LEAD BATTERIES: What is meant?
Starter batteries for vehicles +
Industrial batteries (large batteries used in the industry)

4. Types of Pb batteries Type of batteries Technology Typical uses
Starter batteries (rechargeable)
Lead - Acid
Automotive/Motorcycle
Starter, Lighting and Ignition (SLI)
Industrial batteries (rechargeable)
Lead Acid Standby
Alarm systems, emergency back-up
systems, e.g. rail and telecommunications applications
Lead Acid Traction
Motive power sources e.g. forklift trucks

5. Estimated quantities in Syria
Type of vehicle
Number
Time for battery replacement (years)
Weight (kg)
Generated waste car batteries (tones/year)
Passenger cars
1,441,173 3 15
7,206
Public transport cars
95,827 40
1,278
Tracks
approx. 360,000*
4,800
Motorcycles
>50 cc
approx.
220,000*
1.5
440
<50 cc
140,000* 1
210
TOTAL ,934

6. Assessment of state of the art
Existing environmental legislation
Management systems for batteries’ collection, treatment/recycling
Role/responsibilities of state institutions

7. II. Proposals for policy reforms
Proposals for policy/ institutional/ organizational arrangements necessary for the improvement of the existing situation

8. Assessment of state of the art
Findings - Legislation
“Nucleus” for waste management on which specific regulations for the management of lead batteries can be based: Framework Law 49/ Environmental Law 50/2002
LBS Protocol Adoption: 7 March Entry into force: 11 May 2008
Hazardous Wastes Protocol Adoption: 1 October Entry into force: 19 January 2008

9. Assessment of state of the art
Findings – Legislation
Clear procedure is described concerning any application submitted to the authorities (Ministry for Environment Affairs, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Local Administration) for getting/supervising a permit for treatment/ recycling of hazardous wastes
recycling of Pb batteries (installations)

10. Assessment of state of the art
Findings – Institutional organization
Decentralized system (permits/control)
Ministries Regional Districts
Environment Affairs
Industry
Local Administration

11. Assessment of state of the art
Findings – Enforcement
Controls/inspections are made mainly on the basis of complaints made by citizens concerning annoyance from emissions from illegal installations (conducted by the Regional Directorates)
A comprehensive inspection plan of targeted visits to Pb recycling installations or for controls of illegal collectors (on the road) does not exist

12. Assessment of state of the art
Findings – Human resources
The same staff dealing with issuing the permits is also responsible for the enforcement procedures (monitoring/ inspection), in other Districts there is a separate department for the supervision/control of the installations
The main “load” for inspections lies to the District of Aleppo in which the battery treatment/recycling factory is located

13. Assessment of state of the art
Findings – Management of Pb batteries
Numerous illegal small Pb foundries (total number of those illegally operating units is not known: only in Aleppo area approx of such small “workshops” are assumed to be operational)
Almost certain that these foundries do not apply any environmental protection measures

14. Assessment of state of the art
Findings – Management of Pb batteries
A state owned (by the Ministry of Industry) Pb recycling factory exists (Syrian Company for Batteries and Liquid Gases in Aleppo). It collects the waste car batteries from the approx. 100 repair centers for state vehicles
It is the only existing organized system for the collection and treatment of used car batteries

15. Separate collection of Pb batteries – WHY?
Contains sulphuric acid (64% of the electrolyte) Battery to be separately collected and INTACT No dismantling/breaking/emptying!

16. Assessment of state of the art
Findings – Management of Pb batteries
The collection, transport, storage of car batteries is entirely in the hands of the small private car repair workshops
Sold to recycling units (small foundries)
No licensed collectors

17. Assessment of state of the art
Findings – Operation/capacity of the Syrian Company for Batteries and Liquid Gases (Aleppo) Today (…) : 1,700 ton/year Capacity : 18,000 ton/year (new line in operation) Can cover the total quantities of waste batteries (13,000 ton/year)

18. Assessment of state of the art
Findings – Operation of the Syrian Company for Batteries and Liquid Gases (Aleppo)
Old fashioned rotary kilns, no devices for air emission control/measurements, battery breaking made manually in the open air without any devices for the collection of liquids/solids coming out from this operation
To avoid nuisance to the surrounding population the smelting process is taking place 1-2 times per week, battery breaking and the assembly of the products takes place during the remaining week days

19. Assessment of state of the art
Findings – Producers/importers Producers/importers of batteries are registered by the Ministry of Industry/Economy & Trade Known quantities of “fresh” batteries put on the market

20. Proposals for policy reforms
Producers/importers
Collect Form a “collective”
their own scheme/company
“brand name” (to cover whole/part
of the country)

21. Proposals for policy reforms
Conditions to be fulfilled (permit):
The foreseen quantities of used lead batteries to be collected and recycled according to the average market share of each producer/importer must be documented
The technical infra-structure (i.e. collection bins in vehicle repair/maintenance workshops, tracks/lorries for the transport of the used batteries, storage places)

22. Proposals for policy reforms
Conditions to be fulfilled (permit):
The financial means to execute the required work
The names and economical contribution of each of its stakeholders for the system’s operation (producers/importers) according to each one’s market share
Responsibility to the scheme/company
and not to each producer/importer

23. Proposals for policy reforms
Collectors/transporters
A license from the respective Regional Inspectorate in order to be allowed to collect lead batteries from vehicle repair/maintenance workshops
A letter of intent with a single producer/importer or collective system which he will cooperate with
The means to undertake the work (i.e. vehicles, packaging materials, personnel)

24. Proposals for policy reforms
Recyclers
EIA
Permit Technologies
Monitoring
Only intact batteries
to be accepted

25. Proposals for policy reforms
Car repair/maintenance shops
Have to prove the storage of used batteries or their submission to a licensed collector/ transporter on a 1:1 basis (1 new battery for 1 used battery)
Batteries circulation book
Withdrawal of license

26. Proposals for policy reforms
Authorities
Maintain, operate and update a register of batteries producers/importers
Issue a permit for each single or collective system applying for it
Issue a license for collectors/transporters
Issue an environmental permit for recyclers
supervise/monitor/control

27. Proposals for policy reforms
Legislation
Update, modify existing laws/regulations accordingly

28. Ďakujem vám za vašu pozornosť (SK)
Thank you for your attention (EN) Merci pour votre attention (FR)