Dive Brief:

• The U.S. EPA continues to develop a voluntary battery EPR framework meant to guide states working on extended producer responsibility programs. The agency expects to publish the framework sometime this summer and must also submit a related report to Congress. The agency offered updates during s webinar on Tuesday.
• The framework is not meant to be a model bill for states, but rather a high-level look at the various design, collection, reporting and regulatory considerations that could go into a battery EPR program. It will also offer an overview of current practices and challenges from existing battery EPR states.
• During the webinar, representatives from California, Illinois and New York discussed insights from developing and implementing their battery stewardship programs, which EPA officials said show a range of how states collect batteries and enforce and manage their diverse programs. It’s part of the EPA’s ongoing stakeholder engagement effort to design the framework.

Dive Insight:

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed in 2021, requires the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy to develop this battery EPR framework. At the time the law passed, the intent was for these agencies to develop guidance that would help states structure their design and implementation processes while also offering some level of consistency across different jurisdictions. 

The EPA under the Trump administration has also emphasized that the EPR framework will help advance a national goal to recover more critical minerals from domestic sources. It’s part of the federal government’s ongoing effort to reduce reliance on imports and create U.S.-based jobs. 

The framework is also meant to address the waste and recycling industry’s call to help prevent battery fires, which have been increasing in recent years, said Pat Tallarico, a facilitator for the Eastern Research Group, which is supporting the EPA’s framework development plan. 

The framework will focus on recommendations and best practices for EPR programs that cover small and medium format batteries. That could include both single-use and rechargeable batteries commonly found in personal electronics, mobility devices like e-scooters and e-bikes, and outdoor power equipment, Tallarico said during the webinar.

The final framework is expected to include information to guide decisions about collection models, battery recycling goals, regulatory and enforcement processes, cost structures and reporting requirements. It’s also expected to include information to guide product design and transportation logistics, according to the EPA. 

The Tuesday webinar is part of an ongoing series of virtual meetings and roundtables first started in 2025 to seek input on the framework’s draft. Representatives from state and regional solid waste agencies, along with haulers like Recology and groups like The Battery Network, have all weighed in on the effort in previous sessions. 

During the webinar, program specialists from California, Illinois and New York discussed highlights of the development and implementation processes for their battery stewardship programs. Kim Cochran, who manages a branch of the EPA that covers waste measurement and circular economy principles, said these states are among the “early adopters” of battery EPR programs and can offer insight for other states developing their own program. 

Alex Naidoo, environmental program specialist with New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation, noted that each state’s programs differ in terms of requirements, collections and enforcement details, but share a common goal of making collection convenient and straightforward for residents. He discussed amendments to New York’s battery law that was expanded in 2025 to prohibit disposal of small and medium rechargeable batteries.

A requirement to have certain retailers take back batteries has been helpful, he said. “Reliable retail partners provide a robust collection network, he said. “We don’t struggle to find voluntary collection sites.”

Illinois’ new program for portable and medium-format batteries took effect on Jan. 1. It requires new battery collection locations and covers medium-format and portable batteries including some e-mobility batteries, said Ethan Herrick, environmental protection specialist with the Illinois EPA. Some single-use and rechargeable small batteries are also part of the program. 

Getting the word out about the program and involving local governments in the process has helped build trust in the new program: “Early coordination goes a long way as far as scaling the program,” he said. “The earlier people are aware, the more they can start thinking about participating.” The state is also working on several education campaigns, which he said are important to maintain consistent messaging that will reduce consumer confusion. 

Michelle Cevallos, supervisor of CalRecycle’s battery EPR unit, said the state is in the rulemaking process for its small-format battery program, with regulations expected to go into effect in 2027. Meanwhile, a bill making its way through the state legislature is meant to add medium-format types. Management of embedded batteries are covered under a separate electronics EPR law. 

Coordinating the many moving parts to implementation is a challenge, but Cevallos said the program will benefit from input from several entities, including an advisory body made up of representatives from local governments, recyclers, retailers, environmental organizations and others.

Meanwhile, the EPA is working on a series of separate but interlocking battery recycling projects that are all driven by requirements written into the IIJA and meant to work alongside the EPR framework. 

The law also requires the EPA to develop battery collection best practices, and Congress has allocated $10 million for the effort, according to the EPA. The agency published a battery collection best practices toolkit as part of the effort.

The EPA is also working on a set of voluntary battery labeling guidelines, which Congress allocated $15 million to conduct. The EPA’s deadline is Sept. 30 to finish up work on the battery collection and labeling initiatives. A national education campaign is also part of the process.

This story first appeared in the Waste Dive: Recycling newsletter. Sign up for the weekly emails here.