General Provisions - Responsible Battery Recycling Act Of - Public Resources - CA

Section § 42420

This section establishes the title of the chapter as the Responsible Battery Recycling Act of 2022, which is a law focused on the recycling and management of used batteries.

This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Responsible Battery Recycling Act of 2022.

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Section § 42420.1

This section defines key terms related to battery collection and recycling under the law. A 'brand' is anything that identifies who owns or licenses a battery. 'Collection site' is where batteries are collected for recycling. A 'consumer' owns a battery but isn't involved in its distribution. 'Covered battery' includes batteries that can be easily removed or sold with products but excludes large primary and rechargeable batteries, motor vehicle batteries (with some exceptions like scooters), and fuel cell facilities. The 'Department' refers to the state agency overseeing the program.

'Distributor' sells batteries to retailers, and an 'importer' brings batteries into the state for sale. 'Producer' is the manufacturer or owner of a battery brand. A 'program operator' runs a recycling program. 'Rechargeable battery' can be recharged but doesn't include some specific types. A 'recycler' processes used batteries, and 'recycling' specifically excludes some disposal methods. 'Retailer' sells batteries directly to consumers.

A 'stewardship organization' is a nonprofit group of producers managing battery recycling programs, which must offer free and easy collection. The 'recycling efficiency rate' measures how well these programs recycle batteries. Terms like 'stewardship plan' and 'program' describe how companies and organizations will manage battery recycling.

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Brand” means a trademark, including both a registered trademark and an unregistered trademark, a logo, a name, a symbol, a word, an identifier, or a traceable mark that identifies a covered battery and identifies the owner or licensee of the brand.

(b) “Collection site” means a permanent or temporary location at which covered batteries are collected and prepared for transport in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.

(c) “Consumer” means an owner of a covered battery, including a person, business, corporation, limited partnership, nonprofit organization, or governmental entity, and includes the ultimate purchaser, owner, or lessee of a covered battery, who is not, as to that covered battery, the distributor, importer, producer, recycler, retailer, or stewardship organization.

(d)

(1) “Covered battery” means a device consisting of one or more electrically connected electrochemical cells designed to receive, store, and deliver electric energy. A covered battery includes a battery that is any of the following:

(A) A loose battery that is either sold separately from a product or that is designed to be easily removed from a product by the user of the product, with no more than common household tools.

(B) A battery that is packed with, but not installed in, the product that the battery is intended to power, when the product is offered for sale by the producer.

(2) “Covered battery” does not include any of the following:

(A) A primary battery weighing over two kilograms. For purposes of this subparagraph, “primary battery” means a nonrechargeable battery, including, but not limited to, alkaline, carbon-zinc, and lithium metal batteries.

(B) A rechargeable battery weighing over five kilograms and having a Watt-hour rating of more than 300 Watt-hours.

(D)

(i) A battery contained in a motor vehicle. For purposes of this subparagraph, “motor vehicle” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 415 of the Vehicle Code.

(ii) Notwithstanding any other law, the exclusion in clause (i) does not apply to a battery contained in any of the following:

(I) A motorized scooter.

(II) A motorized skateboard.

(III) A motorized hoverboard.

(IV) A device intended to propel or move upon a highway only one individual person or property.

(E) A fuel cell electrical generating facility. For purposes of this subparagraph, “fuel cell electrical generating facility” has the same meaning as “eligible fuel cell electrical generating facility,” as defined in Section 2827.10 of the Public Utilities Code.

(F)

(i) A Class I device as defined in Section 360c of Title 21 of the United States Code, and either of the following applies:

(I) It is a device described in Section 414.202 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(II) Either of the following applies:

(ia) The device is predominantly used in a health care setting by a provider.

(ib) The device is predominantly prescribed by a health care provider.

(ii) A Class II or Class III device as defined in Section 360c of Title 21 of the United States Code.

(G) A battery that has been recalled.

(e) “Department” means the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery or a successor agency.

(f) “Distributor” means a company that has a contractual relationship with one or more producers to market and sell covered batteries to retailers.

(g) “Electrochemical cell” means a system consisting of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, plus electrical or mechanical connections needed to allow the cell to deliver or receive electric energy.

(h) “Importer” means either of the following:

(1) A person qualifying as an importer of record for purposes of Section 1484(a)(2)(B) of Title 19 of the United States Code with regard to the import of a covered battery that is sold, distributed for sale, or offered for sale in or into the state that was manufactured or assembled by a company outside of the United States.

(2) A person importing into the state for sale, distributing for sale, or offering for sale in the state a covered battery that was manufactured or assembled by a company physically located outside of the state.

(i) “Person” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 40170.

(j)

(1) “Producer” means a person who manufactures a covered battery and who owns or is the licensee of the brand or trademark under which that covered battery is sold, offered for sale, or distributed for sale in or into the state.

(2) If there is no person in the state who is the producer for purposes of paragraph (1), the producer of the covered battery is the owner of a brand or trademark or, if the owner is not in the state, the exclusive licensee of a brand or trademark under which the covered battery is sold, imported for sale, offered for sale, or distributed for sale in or into the state. For purposes of this subdivision, an exclusive licensee is a person holding the exclusive right to use a trademark or brand in the state in connection with the manufacture, sale, or distribution for sale in or into the state of the covered battery.

(3) If there is no person in the state who is the producer for purposes of paragraph (1) or (2), the producer of the covered battery is the person who sells, offers for sale, or is the importer or distributor of the covered battery in or into the state for sale in or into the state.

(4) For purposes of this chapter, the sale of a covered battery shall be deemed to occur in the state if the covered battery is delivered to the purchaser in the state.

(5) “Producer” does not include an admitted insurer possessing a certificate of authority from the Insurance Commissioner pursuant to Section 700 of the Insurance Code, nor does it apply to a placement of insurance that was made in full compliance with Section 1765.1 or 1765.2 of the Insurance Code.

(k) “Program operator” means a producer, or a stewardship organization on behalf of a group of producers, that is responsible for implementing a stewardship program in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.

(l)

(1) “Rechargeable battery” means a battery that contains one or more voltaic or galvanic cells, electrically connected to produce electric energy, and that is designed to be recharged.

(2) “Rechargeable battery” does not include either of the following:

(A) A battery that contains electrolytes as a free liquid.

(B) A battery that employs lead-acid technology, unless that battery is sealed and contains no free liquid electrolytes.

(m) “Recycler” means a person who changes the physical or chemical composition of covered batteries.

(n) “Recycling” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 25121.1 of the Health and Safety Code. “Recycling” does not include any of the following:

(1) Combustion.

(2) Incineration.

(3) Energy generation.

(4) Fuel production.

(5) Beneficial reuse in the construction and operation of a solid waste landfill, including use of alternative daily cover.

(6) Other forms of disposal, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 40192.

(o) “Recycling efficiency rate” means the ratio of the weight of covered battery components recycled by a program operator from covered batteries to the weight of those covered batteries collected by the program operator.

(p) “Retailer” means a person who sells or offers for sale covered batteries in or into the state to a person through any means, including, but not limited to, sales outlets, catalogs, the telephone, the internet, or any electronic means.

(q) “Stewardship organization” means an organization exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3)) that is established by a group of producers in accordance with this chapter to develop and implement a stewardship program.

(r) “Stewardship plan” or “plan” means a plan developed by a program operator pursuant to this chapter for the collection, transportation, and recycling, and the safe and proper management, of covered batteries.

(s) “Stewardship program” means a program established by a program operator pursuant to this chapter for the free at drop off, convenient, and safe collection, transportation, recycling, and otherwise proper management of covered batteries.

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Section § 42420.2

This law requires that a department, in coordination with the Department of Toxic Substances Control and following specific procedures outlined in the Administrative Procedure Act, must establish regulations to put this chapter into effect. These regulations cannot take effect before April 1, 2025.

The department, acting in accordance with Article 1 (commencing with Section 11340) to Article 8 (commencing with Section 11350), inclusive, of the Administrative Procedure Act, as set forth in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code and in consultation with the Department of Toxic Substances Control, shall adopt regulations to implement this chapter with an effective date of no earlier than April 1, 2025.

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Section § 42420.3

This section allows California's Department to change rules about where people can drop off used batteries, to make it easier for everyone to recycle. If they find strong evidence that these changes would improve battery recycling, they can adjust the number of collection sites. They will also set limits on how many batteries one person can drop off at a site in a day. Starting January 1, 2032, and every five years after, they can update the recycling rate targets based on the best technology and methods available.

(a) The department may adjust, through regulations adopted by the department, the minimum required collection sites, pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 42422.1, to ensure that consumers have sufficient convenient access to collection sites, applicable to stewardship plans addressing collection of covered batteries if the department has substantial evidence that allowing for this adjustment will increase the collection of covered batteries.

(b) The department shall establish, through regulations adopted by the department pursuant to Section 42420.2, a limit on the number of covered batteries to be deposited at a single collection site, pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 42422.1, as applicable, by a single consumer in a single day.

(c) Beginning January 1, 2032, and every five years thereafter, the department may after consultation with the program operators and through regulations adopted by the department adjust the minimum recycling efficiency rates established in Section 42422.1 based on the most economically and technically feasible processes and methodology available.

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Section § 42420.4

This law requires any program operator running a stewardship program for collecting hazardous waste, like batteries, to include any entity that wants to participate and complies with relevant laws and the operator's plan. Even if minimum requirements are already met, they must include entities that express interest in writing and meet criteria for laws and resources. The operator has 90 days to bring them into the program after approval of their plan.

If a site doesn't follow laws or program rules, the operator can suspend or remove it. All collection sites must ensure safe handling of waste and comply with regulations.

The program operator must still meet any specified minimum thresholds, regardless of this inclusivity rule.

(a)

(1) A program operator shall include as a collection site under its stewardship program any entity that offers in writing to participate in the stewardship program, complies with all applicable state, federal, and municipal laws and regulations, complies with any program operator requirements that are consistent with that program operator’s approved stewardship plan, and is judged by the program operator to have sufficient staff and resources to reliably comply, even if the minimum thresholds described in subdivision (d) of Section 42422.1, as applicable, have been achieved.

(2) A program operator shall include as a collection site under its stewardship program any household hazardous waste collection facility, as defined in Section 25218.1 of the Health and Safety Code, that offers in writing to participate in the stewardship program, complies with all applicable state, federal, and municipal laws and regulations, and complies with any program operator requirements that are consistent with that program operator’s approved stewardship plan, even if the minimum thresholds described in subdivision (d) of Section 42422.1, as applicable, have been achieved.

(b) A program operator shall include the offering entity as a collection site in the stewardship program within 90 days of receiving the written offer to participate, confirming that the offering entity will comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations, and confirming that the offering entity has sufficient staff and resources to comply with any program operator requirements that are consistent with that program operator’s approved stewardship plan, even if the minimum thresholds described in subdivision (d) of Section 42422.1, as applicable, have been achieved. The program operator shall not be required to respond to offers pursuant to this paragraph until the program operator’s stewardship plan has been approved by the department.

(c) A program operator may suspend or terminate a collection site or service that does not comply with all applicable state, federal, or municipal laws and regulations or adhere to the rules and conditions imposed by the program operator pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 42422.1.

(d) A collection site shall be operated to ensure that covered batteries, as applicable, are collected safely and handled in accordance with all applicable state, federal, and municipal laws and regulations and the rules and conditions of the stewardship plan.

(e) This section does not exempt the program operator from meeting the minimum thresholds described in subdivision (d) of Section 42422.1.

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