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.”