India’s battery makers say new recycling rules may pull the plug on their business

New Delhi: A dry cell battery powers a child’s toy in a Bihar village, a torch during a Mumbai blackout and a television remote in a Delhi living room. More than 2.2 billion units are sold in India every year, but the factories behind them are now at risk of going dark.

Eveready, Nippo, Panasonic and Duracell-companies that powered India for more than five decades-warned that a government recycling mandate could push the dry cell battery industry to the brink. They say the new rules have rendered their business model financially unviable, leaving manufacturers staring at potential shutdowns.