California lawmakers passed a pair of bills, Senate Bill 1215 and Assembly Bill 2440, to create a statewide collection and recycling program for consumer batteries and products that contain batteries.

California classifies batteries as hazardous waste and bans them from landfills because of the hazardous metals and corrosive materials they contain. SB 1215, which is authored by California Sen. Josh Newman, expands the state’s existing Electronic Waste Recycling Act to include products containing batteries that cannot be easily removed without household tools. AB 2440 establishes a large extended producer responsibility (EPR) battery program, also helping to eliminate the threat of fires at waste and recycling facilities.

Continue reading article by Megan Smalley at Waste Today Magazine