Batteries

In February 2006, the State of California banned all household batteries from solid waste landfill disposal, which resulted in an unfunded mandate on local governments. Check out this powerful video made by Canada's Marketplace, an investigative consumer show, which explains the magnitude of the problem. You'll be surprised to find out what many people do with their batteries!

Batteries Not Included

According to a 2002 CIWMB report (now CalRecycle) more than 500 million batteries are sold each year in California and only one-half of one percent are recycled through city and county household hazardous waste programs — and the cost to ratepayers and taxpayers is astronomic — projected to exceed $31 million per year*.

* Source: California Integrated Waste Management Board, "Household Universal Waste Generation in California", August 2002

News & Events

• Shock to the System —Heidi Sanborn, Waste Age Magazine 12/11/11

• KGO7 TV San Francisco on Source Reduction and Recycling of Batteries —Michael Finney, KGO7 TV 8/2/10
  

• Manufacturers Must Help Recycle Used Batteries —San Francisco Chronicle 7/15/10

• KTVU News Video from Alameda County on Battery Recycling Bill
  —Tom Vacar, KTVU News 6/24/10

• RBRC Call to Recycle Proposal to British Columbia to collect all household batteries and cell phones 2/4/10

• Call2Recycle Receives Basel Action Network Award 8/11/09

• U.S. Dept of Transportation Eases Alkaline Battery Transportation Rules 6/23/09
  The U.S. Department of Transportation has agreed that alkaline batteries do not need to have the terminal ends taped or isolated during transportation. This is big news for HHW program operators - saving considerable time and money. Read the exchange between battery recycler Kinsbursky Brothers and the U.S. DOT.

• Battery and Lamp Collection in Tuolumne County —Sierra Mountain Times, 5/8/09

Policy & Legislation

Local

• San Luis Obispo County's Ordinance No. 2008-1 establishes a household battery and fluorescent light management program. 3/12/08

California State

• SB 515, Corbett - Battery Stewardship Act: SUPPORT
  
  SB 515 was held on the suspense file for further work per the request of the author, Senator Ellen Corbett. This is a two year bill and must be moved out of the committee in January 2012 to remain viable. The bill would require household battery producers to create and implement a stewardship program to manage household batteries at end of life. CPSC continues to work with the author and stakeholders to seek agreement on next steps.
• Napa County Letter of Support with Signatures Collected at Earth Day Event  4/28/11
• Model Letter to HP 4/25/11
• SB 515 EPR Fact Sheet 12/02/11
• Model Letter of Support 4/19/11
  

For information on current legislation affecting batteries, see 2011 State Legislation.

International

What You Can Do To Help

Consumers

Look for Alkaline Batteries Sold by Companies that Proide Take-Back
           and Recycling Services

PerfPower is the first alkaline battery producer in the U.S to offer a free recycling program for their alkaline batteries. The batteries are made from recycled materials and include free shipping to the recycler. For details on how to purchase the batteries and use the  recycling program, visit their website at www.irecycled.com

Switch to Rechargeable Batteries

Battery Usage Self-Assessment Survey , developed by Green Purchasing Institute
Use this survey to determine how and where single-use batteries are being used and to make the case for switching to rechargeables.

Recycle Rechargeable Batteries

Since some rechargeable batteries contain heavy metals, battery producers have organized a voluntary responsibility organization called Call2Recycle. We encourage you to utilize Call2Recycle collection bins available at many retailers.

Handouts about the Call2Recycle Program for rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling:



• For consumers
• For consumers, with sample retail participants
• For the healthcare industry
• For higher education
• For retailers
  
  

To find out where to recycle all batteries and cell phones, go to the Earth911 website.

Local Government Action

Measure your staff's battery purchasing and waste management practices

Use this survey to reduce your environmental impacts and costs by maximizing the use of rechargeable batteries in your operations and recycling your rechargeable batteries for free through the industry-sponsored Call2Recycle program.

Require/Support Producer Responsibility

San Luis Obispo County passed ordinances that shift the financial burden for management of paint, sharps, fluorescent lights and household batteries from local government to the producers and retailers of these products.

• To purchase PerfPower alkaline batteries visit the PerfPower website; For business or agency purchases click on commercial; for consumer purchases click on residential to find the nearest authorized dealer. You can also call Corporate Headquarters in NYC at (646) 867-2798 ext. 7 and ask for Michael Song.

Local Government Program Materials

• Battery Handling Guide from Tuolumne Pilot Project rev. 2/22/10
  
  
• Model Producer Responsibility Policy Language for Batteries —Green Purchasing Institute 7/15/09

Battery Resource Links

• CalRecycle Battery Webpage
  
  
• Call2Recycle Webpage - The Rechargeable Battery Manufacturers Stewardship Program
  
  
• The National Electrical Manufacturers Association did research studies in March 2011 that resulted in two reports:  Potential “Free-Riders” in the US Battery Waste Stream and Summary Report of Analyses of Mercury from Consumer Batteries in the Waste Stream.   In short, the studies show that about 21% of batteries are from non-NEMA member companies and that we are still seeing about 1.5% of batteries coming back contain mercury.
  —NEMA 3/2011
  
  
• Life Cycle Impacts of Alkaline Batteries with a Focus on End-of-Life —MIT 2/11
  Study conducted for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association comparing landfilling alkaline batteries with several collection schemes for battery recycling.  Confirms that collecting and recycling alkaline batteries is preferred to landfilling. 
  
  
• Boiler Plate Language for EPR for Purchasing —Green Purchasing Institute rev. 2/22/10
  
  
• All-Battery and Mobile Phone Collection and Recycling Plan for British Columbia
  —Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation of Canada (RBRCC) 2/4/10
  A stewardship plan for batteries and mobile phones developed for the British Columbia stewardship program by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation of Canada (RBRCC). The plan will create convenient take back locations, a public awareness and education program with full accountability and transparency.
  
  
• U.S. Department of Transportation Ruling on Shipping Spent Batteries 4/3/09
  
  
• The Corporation for Battery Recycling - The U.S. Battery Stewardship Program Website
  
  
• Product Stewardship Institute Battery Webpage