SHAH ALAM, Aug 11 — The state government is considering adopting an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approach to make producers, suppliers, and brand owners directly responsible for products throughout their lifecycle, including the safe management of end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries and solar panels.
State executive councillor for public health and the environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the policy is vital as Selangor prepares for a projected increase in EV battery and solar panel waste in the future, adding that the state government will explore ways to support its implementation.
“EPR will be a significant policy approach to ensure that producers, importers, suppliers, or brand owners are directly responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products,” she said during the question-and-answer session of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting today.
Jamaliah was responding to Ijok state assemblyman Jefri Mejan’s supplementary query on whether Selangor will require EV and solar panel manufacturers, distributors, and installers to implement a take-back system, which necessitates the collection of batteries and solar panels at the end of their useful life.
She noted that end-of-life solar panels and EV batteries are classified as scheduled waste under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127) and the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005, and cannot be disposed of together with ordinary waste.
Used batteries and other scheduled waste are required to undergo recovery processes in line with the “cradle-to-cradle” concept to reduce their environmental impact.
“Owners or producers of the waste must send end-of-life EV batteries and solar panels to recovery premises licensed by the Environment Department,” Jamaliah said.
EV batteries will undergo the collection, separation, crushing, and recovery processes to extract valuable materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel before being reprocessed using approved technologies.
Selangor currently has two off-site recovery facilities licensed to handle SW103 waste, which includes EV batteries, as well as 11 full-recovery facilities and 21 partial-recovery facilities licensed to handle SW110 waste, including end-of-life solar panels.
Any new premises undertaking EV battery or solar panel recovery activities are subject to environmental impact assessment requirements before being considered for licensing to prevent pollution risks.
On illegal disposal, she said action can be taken under Section 34B of Act 127 against parties that improperly dispose of scheduled waste, including EV batteries, with offenders facing a maximum fine of RM10 million and up to five years’ imprisonment.
While the management of solar panel and EV battery waste largely falls under federal jurisdiction, Selangor plans to expand its network of accessible e-waste collection centres across local authorities, including by integrating them with existing community recycling programmes.
Jamaliah said that the state government is also developing the Selangor Green Economy Roadmap, with its second volume focusing on the circular economy, including waste management, renewable energy, as well as the collection, recycling, and safe disposal of solar panels and EV batteries.
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