New guidelines regulate battery recycling sector

The government is tackling illegal disposal of lead-acid fuel cells, which has resulted in pollution and higher health risks. Hou Liqiang reports from Pizhou, Jiangsu.

China is the world's largest manufacturer of lead-acid batteries, which are widely used to power electric bikes and supply the ignition spark for conventional automobiles.

However, spent batteries, which are officially designated as hazardous waste, are often disposed of illegally, squandering large amounts of valuable lead and causing pollution that is costly to remedy.