In June 2020, the Authority consulted on the development of weight conversion factors to calculate the weight of rechargeable batteries. Read the Consultation Report.
These weight conversion factors can be used by rechargeable battery producers when meeting their reporting requirements under Ontario’s Batteries Regulation. All rechargeable battery producers will have the choice to report the weight of batteries they supplied into Ontario using the actual weight or using the weight conversion factors to do a unit-to-weight conversion.
The final conversion factors are included in the Authority’s Registry Procedure (Verification and Audit) for Batteries.
Process for Developing the Weight Conversion Factors
The Authority worked with a research team from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to develop the draft weight conversion factors. The team has extensive experience in waste statistics, particularly around e-waste and e-waste components such as batteries.
The researchers carried out three steps to develop draft weight conversion factors:
1. Classification of all rechargeable batteries, including loose rechargeable batteries and replacement batteries for rechargeable batteries embedded within or sold with electronic products. Batteries were classified by chemistry, size, and application.
2. Development of weight conversion factors by size, using desktop research to compile a comprehensive list of average weights by battery size (including the casing/housing). For most battery chemistries, standard sizes and average weights from different data sources were found to be comparable and consistent.
3. Development of weight conversion factors by application, where the average weight of secondary batteries by application (g/unit) was obtained by dividing the average energy usage per application (Wh/unit) by the average energy flow per grams of battery (Wh/g). Calculated weight for battery casings were then added to the battery weight. The average weight by application were validated by comparing them to a sample of batteries in the marketplace.
The Authority considered feedback received from stakeholders on the draft weight conversion factors developed by the research team before they were finalized. ReadUNITAR’s report.
Consultation webinar
The Authority held a consultation webinar on June 2, 2020 to present the draft weight conversion factors for rechargeable batteries:
- Watch the webinar recording
- Review the presentation slides
All feedback was received by the Authority on or before June 23, 2020.
For more information about the Batteries Regulation under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, and the IPR framework and resource recovery requirements for batteries, visit the Batteries page on our website. Information about the wind up of Stewardship Ontario’s single-use battery recycling program is also available there.