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Finance committee advances statewide battery stewardship bill to reduce fires and expand recycling access
Summary
Senate Bill 163 would create a producer‑funded battery stewardship program to improve collection, recycling and public education for batteries; supporters said it addresses a rising trend of lithium‑ion fires in material‑recovery facilities and waste infrastructure and would provide convenient, free recycling statewide.
Representatives Stewart and Brown presented Senate Bill 163, a producer responsibility / battery stewardship bill intended to create statewide, convenient collection and recycling of consumer batteries to reduce battery‑related fires in waste and recycling infrastructure.
Dr. Elizabeth Chapman of Recycle Colorado described the program as modelled on existing extended producer responsibility programs: it would remove the financial barrier for proper recycling and ensure even low‑value batteries are recovered instead of landfilled. Barrett Jensen (National Waste and Recycling Association, Colorado chapter) testified that material recovery facilities nationwide average more than 18 battery‑related fires annually and that fires and insurance costs have risen substantially; he said Colorado has seen a 41% increase in battery‑related fires over five years. Brian Loma (Green Latinos Colorado) and others described the public‑safety risks to waste workers and firefighters and urged a program to improve capture and safety.
Redwood Materials testified in writing and in person that while the company supports the goal of increased battery recovery, as drafted the bill could limit battery recyclers’ ability to operate subsidized direct‑collection programs and could funnel materials through an untested nonprofit aggregator rather than to qualified recyclers that reclaim critical minerals; Redwood asked for amendments to define and preserve an active role for certified battery recyclers.
Committee action: The sponsor offered Amendment L14 to make several technical corrections requested by CDPHE (including referencing state universal waste regulations instead of federal ones, adding recalled batteries to exemptions, and increasing a plan review fee to $136,000 to cover upfront costs). The committee adopted L14 and advanced SB 163 to the Committee on Appropriations; the chair announced the vote 9 to 2 in favor.
Ending: Sponsors and supporters framed the bill as a common‑sense, industry‑supported measure to protect workers, infrastructure and communities by increasing safe battery recovery and recycling access across Colorado.
