The Ministry of Environment on Thursday issued its first prakas on safe battery management, laying out specific guidelines on the collection, storage, treatment, delivery and disposal of batteries by households and businesses alike.

“We want to have better management [because] batteries contain chemical substances which pollute the environment, air, land, water and atmosphere . . . and affect public health,” Environment Ministry spokesman Sao Sopheap said, adding that the prakas applied to all batteries, regardless of type and size.

One clause outlined in the prakas was the compulsory separation of batteries from other waste during disposal.

According to Sopheap, the prakas – which was to take immediate effect – will be enforced by local environment departments, which will conduct inspections of households and businesses every three months and report findings to the ministry.

“Those who violate the prakas will be punished based on articles 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Management,” he said.