Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Committee hears broad support — and technical concerns — for battery stewardship program to reduce fires and landfill risk
Summary
HB 16 02 would create a battery stewardship program funded and run by producers to improve collection, recycling, and safety for removable batteries (including lithium-ion). Supporters — manufacturers, recyclers, municipal groups, and fire chiefs — emphasized safety and municipal cost relief; recyclers urged amendments to preserve independent collector roles and to avoid forfeiture provisions.
The committee heard extensive testimony on HB 16 02, a bill to establish a producer-funded battery recycling stewardship program that would expand convenient collection, address lithium-ion fire risks, and reimburse municipal collection costs.
Representative Karen Ebel said the proposal follows a recent disposal ban and industry interest in an organized, producer-led system. “This is a really, important safety issue,” she said, linking municipal fires and transfer-station damage…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
