Regulatory Decree of the Environment and Sustainable Development Sector addresses WEEE, batteries and accumulators

Country / jurisdiction: Colombia · Year: 2022 · Status: In force · Level: National · Type: Voluntary

Resolution 851 of 2022 seeks to improve Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) collection rates, promote recycling and reuse, and ensure proper disposal to minimize environmental impact by establishing the classification and management guidelines for electrical and electronic equipment and their waste to prevent and control environmental impacts.

The resolution includes the following key provisions:

Provides categories and subcategories for the waste classification of products, including various types of electrical and electronic equipment

Requires producers to establish systems for the collection and management of WEEE

Specifies technical requirements for collection points, storage centers, and collection campaigns to ensure proper handling and documentation of WEEE

Tasks the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development with setting guidelines and requirements for WEEE collection and management systems

Of note is how the resolution handles lithium in the context of managing residues of electrical and electronic equipment. Products are defined according to the tariff lines of imported goods, with lithium-ion batteries included under HTS code 8507.60.0000. Under the resolution, lithium is classified as a potentially hazardous component in electronic devices, requiring special handling to prevent environmental damage. From 2024, the collection of used lithium-ion batteries (ULIB) from electric vehicles is mandatory and mandatory collection rates for batteries from electric vehicles and other industrial batteries start at 0.5% in 2024, increasing to 65% by 2044.

Official source: https://www.minambiente.gov.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Resolucion-0851-de-2022.pdf