Kick-off: Current Landscape and Conversation Track Overview for All Battery Types
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Overview
When batteries are discarded improperly in household trash or curbside recycling, critical materials inside batteries are lost and cannot be recycled into new batteries. Additionally, batteries in trash and recycling can start fires, threatening worker safety and contributing to air pollution in already overburdened communities. To address these challenges, EPA is developing battery collection best practices and battery labeling guidelines.
On March 19, 2024, EPA hosted a webinar to kick-off the battery collection and labeling initiative. During the webinar, EPA shared background and context around the on-going battery collection and labeling efforts and discussed how interested parties can get involved. EPA provided next steps for attendees, which included sharing dates and goals for upcoming meetings, providing an interest form for the June in-person working session, and encouraging participants to submit additional input via batteries@epa.gov.
Speakers
- Nena Shaw, Director, Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division, U.S. EPA.
- Ellen Meyer, Batteries and Critical Minerals Senior Scientist, RCSD, U.S. EPA.
- Pat Tallarico, Facilitator, Eastern Research Group Support Team.