Jordan Moves to Regulate Disposal of Used EV, Hybrid Batteries

Amman: The Ministry of Environment has introduced new measures to regulate the handling of used electric and hybrid vehicle batteries, covering licensing, storage, transport, and export in line with international environmental standards. Ministry spokesperson Shorouq Abu Taleb announced that two facilities have been licensed to collect the batteries for export under the Basel Convention on transboundary waste movement. Additionally, specialized vehicles have been approved to transport them to the hazardous waste center in Swaqa, and auto dealers are authorized to store replaced batteries pending export. According to Jordan News Agency, a dedicated warehouse is being prepared at the Swaqa facility, with safety measures in place to ensure proper storage. The ministry specified that batteries are packed in insulated wooden crates before storage. In 2024, Jordan exported 720 tons of used EV and hybrid batteries. The ministry has also issued standard operating procedures for handling lithium batteries damaged in traffic accidents, in coordination with public security and civil defense. The ministry reported that Jordan had around 389,000 electric and hybrid vehicles on the road in 2024. Regulations governing used battery management were amended last year to include EV and hybrid batteries, with the aim of improving collection, transport, recycling, and export processes.