Douglas County backs LB309 to fund battery collection and recycling after safety presentation

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted to support a proposed state bill, LB309, that would establish a stewardship framework for safe battery collection and recycling after a presentation from Kent Holm, the county’s environmental services director.

Holm told the board lithium‑ion batteries — found in e‑bikes, portable electronics and power tools — have caused fires at waste‑handling facilities, in collection trucks and in housing units. He presented photographs and a short video demonstrating thermal runaway, the phenomenon by which a compromised lithium battery can rapidly ignite and burn very hot.

Holm described extended producer responsibility (EPR) as a best practice being considered nationally and said LB309 would create a stewardship organization funded by manufacturers that could reimburse local collection sites (including household hazardous‑waste drop‑offs such as the county’s under‑sink facility) and expand the collection network beyond a few retailers. He said that approach shifts collection costs from taxpayers to producers, improves recycling and incentivizes manufacturers to design safer, more recyclable products.

Holm asked for board support of LB309; the board’s motion to support the bill passed after a second, with Commissioner Friend recording an abstention. County staff said they would share summaries and resources with commissioners to aid review and outreach.

Commissioner Friend said he abstained because he had not yet finished reviewing the 19‑page bill and because he had concerns about potential commerce and manufacturing impacts if Nebraska were the only state adopting a particular approach. Other speakers mentioned stakeholders who had signaled support or were monitoring the bill, including the League of Nebraska Municipalities, the Rechargeable Battery Association (which provided technical comments) and national waste‑and‑recycling groups.

Holm said LB309 focused on portable and consumer batteries and would not address larger electric‑vehicle battery packs, which he described as a separate policy area. He said the county would provide written summaries of the bill and related materials to the board and, if necessary, the county lobbyist would testify in Lincoln on behalf of the county if weather prevents Holm from traveling.

After the vote Holm thanked the board and noted the safety implications of battery fires for waste‑handling, recycling and first responders.