New Calif. law
requires retailers to take back rechargeable batteries
Oct. 13California retailers will have to take back rechargeable
batteries starting next year under legislation signed by Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger this month.
The Rechargeable Battery Act of 2006 requires California retailers
selling rechargeable batteries to take back the batteries at no cost to
the consumer by July 1. The law exempts stores that primarily sell food
and retailers with annual gross sales of less than $1 million.
Retailers can use existing take-back programs such as the one the
Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. offers.
Democratic Assemblywoman Fran Pavley sponsored the legislation,
Assembly Bill 1125. The California Department of Toxic Substances
Control considers rechargeable batteries hazardous, and therefore they
must be disposed of as hazardous waste starting Feb. 8.
The legislation requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control
to annually survey battery handling and recycling operations on or
before July 1, 2007 and each subsequent July 1. The department will use
the information to determine the estimated amount by weight of each type
of rechargeable batteries returned.
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