Track 1b: Small Format Batteries - Collection
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Summary
As required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is developing battery collection best practices and voluntary battery labeling guidelines to improve battery collection and recycling and reduce safety incidents that threaten waste management worker safety. EPA is developing battery collection best practices for state, Tribal, and local governments to recycle batteries in a manner that is technically and economically feasible, environmentally sound and safe, and optimizing value and use of materials, including critical minerals.
On May 14, 2024, EPA hosted a virtual meeting for Track 1b: small format battery collection as part of EPA’s battery collection best practices initiative. The session began with a brief overview of EPA’s goal for the collection best practices. Then, speakers from federal, state, and local governments, retail shops, non-profits, and industries shared their perspectives on the safe collection, storage, and transport of small format batteries. The U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration presented on transportation regulations and safety concerns for lithium batteries. Call2Recycle, Lowes, and Stihl presented on retail collection best practices, current battery collection trends, and opportunities for improved battery collection.
Next, presentations from Washington State, City of Mesa, Arizona, and Santa Clara County, California included information on Washington’s new battery Extended Producer Responsibility law, battery fire preparedness, and reaching underrepresented communities for battery collection. Presentations concluded with the Recycled Materials Association sharing current challenges posed by small format embedded batteries and other end-of-life batteries as well as best practices for handling damaged, defective, or recalled batteries. Meeting participants were able to ask questions to the presenters through the webinar chat. EPA wrapped up the call by providing dates and goals for upcoming meetings and encouraging participants to submit additional input via batteries@epa.gov.
Speakers
- Ellen Meyer, Batteries and Critical Minerals Senior Scientist, Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division, U.S. EPA.
- Pat Tallarico, Facilitator, Eastern Research Group Support Team.
- Kevin Leary, U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
- Todd Ellis, Call2Recycle.
- Robert Gass, Lowes.
- Micah Day, Stihl.
- Megan Warfield, Washington State Department of Ecology.
- Deb Ferraro, City of Mesa Environmental & Sustainability Department.
- Ryan Nolte, Recycles Materials Association.
- Billy Puk, Santa Clara County.