Battery waste disposal challenges in small island states and emerging solutions

Small island nations face unique hurdles in managing end-of-life (EOL) electric vehicle batteries, including a lack of specialized workforces, space constraints, and the inability to achieve economies of scale. The report highlights that while large markets benefit from established recycling networks, islands must navigate complex international regulations, such as the Basel Convention and IMO's IMDG Code, to export waste. It suggests a phased approach—utilizing off-island export in the short term and investing in local shredding infrastructure as volumes grow—citing Bermuda's proactive national strategy as a viable model for other remote regions.

• Small island nations face significant barriers to implementing standard EOL battery models due to limited space for local processing, a lack of a specialized technical workforce, and small market sizes that hinder business models based on scale.
• Transporting battery waste from islands to processing hubs involves navigating a complex web of international and national regulations, including the Basel Convention for cross-border transfers and the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) IMDG Code for marine shipment.
• For islands exporting waste to the United States, batteries must comply with Coast Guard approval, US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration guidelines, and US Department of Transportation regulations under Title 49 of the CFR 173, while being classified as "universal waste" by the EPA.
• While shredding batteries can simplify transport by removing flammable components and preserving minerals, current shredding equipment is designed for volumes far exceeding the current capacity of most island waste facilities, making it impractical for now.
• Bermuda is implementing a phased national EV waste strategy that prioritizes shipping batteries to the United States in the short term while planning for the development of on-island shredding facilities as waste volumes increase over the next decade.

APA

RMI (2026). Battery waste disposal challenges in small island states and emerging solutions. https://rmi.org/resources/evs-are-coming-to-island-nations-what-happens-when-they-retire/

Chicago

RMI. Battery waste disposal challenges in small island states and emerging solutions. 2026. https://rmi.org/resources/evs-are-coming-to-island-nations-what-happens-when-they-retire/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Battery waste disposal challenges in small island states and emerging solutions |date=23 June 2026 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/evs-are-coming-to-island-nations-what-happens-when-they-retire/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2026battery, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Battery waste disposal challenges in small island states and emerging solutions}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/evs-are-coming-to-island-nations-what-happens-when-they-retire/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }