The constituents of used lead acid batteries (ULAB), such as lead and sulfuric acid, may pose a threat to human health and the environment if managed improperly. The Regional Strategy for the Environmentally Sound Management of Used Lead Acid Batteries in Central America, Columbia, Venezuela and the Caribbean Island States was prepared under the auspices of the Basel Convention Partnership Initiative to assist developing countries in planning for and adopting policies, programs and measures to support a cooperative and coordinated approach to ensuring the environmentally sound management (ESM) of ULAB in the region. A regional approach is needed because the domestic ULAB recycling capacity of many countries in the region is inadequate (from an ESM perspective), insufficient, or lacking altogether. In addition, several countries (especially Small Island Developing States) do not generate sufficient quantities of ULAB to establish direct consignments with ULAB recyclers located in other countries.

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ULAB include starting or “automotive” batteries, and deep discharge or “industrial” batteries (used for stationary and motive applications).  The constituents of used lead acid batteries (ULAB), such as lead and sulphuric acid, may pose a threat to human health and the environment if managed improperly. 

In the Group of Latin America and Caribbean (GRULAC) there have been several documented cases in which ULAB has not been managed in an environmentally sound manner and has led to a number of adverse impacts, including lead poisoning and lead contaminated sites in some vulnerable communities.  Consequently the mismanagement of ULAB may have long-term implications, not only for a country’s environmental health, but also for its economic and social growth and development.  Within the GRULAC, a number of countries, particularly the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), have resource constraints and challenges associated with the environmentally sound management (ESM) of ULAB.

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