Recently, the Ministry of the Environment published in the Official Gazette the draft decree that incorporates batteries as a priority product within the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law, marking a new milestone in the environmental management of complex waste in Chile.

What does the preliminary draft establish?

The proposal sets progressive collection and recovery targets for batteries of 5 kg or more, differentiating them from household batteries and establishing specific obligations for producers.

Classification and proposed goals:

Lead-acid batteries

Used primarily in combustion engine vehicles.

The appreciation would begin at 50% annually and would gradually increase to reach 90% within ten years.

⚡ Lithium-ion batteries

Key to electromobility and energy storage systems.

The proposal is to start with an annual target of 15% and gradually scale up to 50% by the tenth year.

Other batteries

This includes those with different chemical compositions, according to the definition contained in the draft.

Obligations for producers:

Producers who introduce batteries to the national market must organize and finance their collection and valorization through Management Systems, hiring authorized managers to meet the established goals.

Key operational measures:

• Installation of reception points in municipalities with larger populations.
• Obligation of free reception by large retailers.
• Possibility of direct withdrawal from workshops and other generation points.
• Labeling requirements to facilitate correct identification and recycling.

Incentivos a la circularidad:

There are recognized advantages to reused batteries (“second life”), which can return to the market without being subject to recovery targets again, promoting more circular models of use before recycling. ♻️

Citizen participation:

Currently, the draft is in the public consultation stage, a key step for stakeholders in the sector, companies and citizens to make observations that will allow for the improvement of the final decree.

At Hidronor, we value this regulatory advancement, which strengthens the legal framework for the management of strategic waste and contributes to consolidating a more robust circular economy in the country, especially in the context of the energy transition. ♻️

You can review the full regulations at this link: https://www.diariooficial.interior.gob.cl/publicaciones/2026/02/25/44385/01/2773908.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com