SB 515 (Corbett, 2011-12) Household Battery Recycling Bill

Summary. Product stewardship for household batteries

Position and Status. CAW Supports.

SB 515 was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee and is now a dead bill. Previously, it passed out of Senate Environmental Quality Committee  4/4/2011 with a 5-2 vote.

Description. Producers of household batteries (such as alkaline, rechargeable, nickel-cadmium and other batteries typically generated as household waste) must submit a stewardship plan to Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and implement the plan upon its approval by DTSC. SB 515 will also require battery manufacturers to meet recycling goals each year and report data to the Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery who will oversee the implementation of each manufacturer’s stewardship plan.

SB 515 will help local governments’ bottom lines by saving tax-payer money used to manage toxic battery waste. It will also create green jobs recycling and collecting batteries. In addition, battery stewardship will help California’s environment by ensuring that battery waste is properly managed.

CAW Staff Contacts.

Teresa Bui (916) 443-5422

Senator Ellen Corbett
State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814
fax: 916-327-2433

Current Language, Analyses and Votes. 

Supporters.
Californians Against Waste
California Retailers Association
California State Association of Counties
Center for Environmental Health
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
Clean Water Action
Contra Costa Clean Water Program
Environment California
Humboldt Waste Management Authority
League of California Cities
Los Angeles County Solid Waste Mgmt Cmte
Monterey Regional Waste Mgmt District
Napa Recycling and Waste Services
City of Roseville
City and County of San Francisco 
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
City of Santa Monica
Sierra Cost Management
Sierra Club California
Solid Waste Association of North America
Stopwaste.org (Alameda County) (Sponsor)                         
City of Sunnyvale
Tehama County Sanitary Landfill Agency
City of Torrance
City of Vernon

Opposition.
BIOCOM
The Grocers Manufacturing Association
Hewlett-Packard
TechAmerica
Toy Industry Association Inc.