The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is clamping down on illegal recyclers of used lead acid batteries (ULABs) following reports of unregulated smelting of the metal in several provinces.
Gilbert Gonzales, DENR assistant secretary for field operations, said the agency has coordinated with the regional offices on the conduct of surveillance and monitoring of illegal smelters.
This developed in the wake of an order by the Office of the President to look into the Federation of Philippine Industries report by chairman Jesus Arranza that lead smelting without government permits are prevalent in Valenzuela, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Cavite, Cebu, Bacolod, and Davao.
Gonzales said ULAB recyclers and lead smelters need to secure “necessary environmental permits such as an environmental compliance certificate, discharge permit, permit to operate and registration certificate as a treatment storage and disposal facility.”
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) is also validating ULAB compliance, identify individuals and establishments illegally engaged in smelting and encourage the public to report ULAB processing activities.
The EMB also intensified the monitoring of junk shops engaged in the ULAB trade in coordination with local government units in tandem with accredited ULABs in an incentives program for the general public to provide information that identifies individuals and establishments engaged in illegal lead smelting.
Lead smelting requires a license as it involves handling hazardous materials requiring the use of adequate anti-pollution systems and proper disposal facilities for acids and other chemicals.
