Allan Gerlat, News Editor

March 6, 2013

1 Min Read
California Considering Battery Recycling Bill

The California legislature is considering a bill that would create a recycling and disposal program for non-rechargeable batteries sold in the state.

Assembly Bill 488, introduced by Assemblyman Das Williams, will put more responsibility on manufacturers to design and manage the recycling system, according to a news release from Williams.

All household batteries have been banned from landfills in California since 2006. But less than 5 percent of used batteries are recycled through local government household hazardous waste programs. Primary batteries account for about 80 percent of the 150 million batteries sold annually in California.

“This is a perfect example of how producers, local governments, and retailers can unite to help meet a greater good,” Williams said.

 “Banning batteries from disposal without making recycling easy is frustrating for the public,” said Heidi Sanborn, executive director of the Sacramento-based California Product Stewardship Council. “The goal of this bill is to provide convenient recycling opportunities statewide to make it easy for consumers to comply with the law.”

About the Author(s)

Allan Gerlat

News Editor, Waste360

Allan Gerlat joined the Waste360 staff in September 2011 as news editor. He was the editor of Waste & Recycling News for the first 16 years of its history, and under his guidance the publication won 27 national and regional awards.

Before Waste & Recycling News, Allan worked at another Crain Communications publication, Rubber & Plastics News, which covers rubber product manufacturing. He began with the publication as associate editor and eventually became managing editor, a position he held for nine years.

Allan is a graduate of Ohio University, where he earned a BS in journalism. He is based in Sagamore Hills, in northeast Ohio.

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