California lawmakers have approved a bill that could significantly expand the state’s battery recycling program, sending the measure to Gov. Gavin Newsom for final consideration.
SB 501 would update California’s Responsible Battery Recycling Act of 2022 by expanding the types of batteries covered under the state’s stewardship system. The bill passed the Assembly 62-14 on August 24, and the Senate agreed to the Assembly’s amendments on August 31, according to Resource Recycling.
The legislation now awaits Newsom’s signature or veto. He has until October 14, 2026, to act on bills passed during the final days of the legislative session.
One of the biggest changes involves medium-format batteries, including batteries commonly used in e-bikes, electric lawn equipment and portable power systems. Waste Dive also highlighted the addition of rechargeable medium-format batteries as a major part of the bill, which supporters say would close a gap in California’s existing battery stewardship system.
What Would SB 501 Change?
Extended producer responsibility, or EPR, programs generally place greater responsibility for managing products at the end of their useful lives on the companies that produce them.
California already has stewardship requirements covering several types of batteries. SB 501 would change how covered batteries are classified while bringing additional batteries into the program.
New Small- and Medium-Format Battery Categories
Under the existing law, certain larger primary and rechargeable batteries are excluded based on their weight.
SB 501 would eliminate those weight-based exclusions and instead divide covered batteries into two categories: small-format batteries and medium-format batteries. The classifications would be based on factors including battery weight and watt-hour rating, according to Resource Recycling.
The medium-format category is particularly important because it covers batteries found in products that have become increasingly common, including:
- E-bike batteries
- Electric lawn and outdoor equipment
- Portable power systems
Waste Dive described the expansion as an effort to close a loophole in the current program by bringing additional battery types into California’s EPR system.
Why California Is Expanding Battery Stewardship
Supporters of SB 501 point to several related concerns: more battery-powered products reaching the end of their useful lives, fires caused by improperly discarded batteries and the costs local governments face when managing those materials.
More Batteries Are Reaching End of Life
Battery-powered products are becoming more common across transportation, lawn equipment, electronics and portable power applications. As more of those products are sold, more batteries eventually need to be collected, recycled or otherwise managed at the end of their useful lives.
Waste Dive reports that supporters of SB 501 specifically pointed to the growing number of batteries entering the waste stream and described the existing exclusions as a gap in California’s current system.
Adding medium-format batteries would create a more defined stewardship pathway for products that may not fit neatly within existing battery collection programs.
Battery Fires Remain a Major Concern
Fire risk is another major reason supporters are pushing for the change.
Batteries that are improperly placed in trash or recycling streams can create serious problems for collection vehicles, transfer stations and recycling facilities. This is particularly concerning with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which can ignite when damaged, crushed or improperly handled.
Supporters argue that creating clearer collection options for medium-format batteries could help keep more of them out of traditional waste and recycling streams.
Waste Dive noted that proponents specifically cited the growing sales of e-bikes and other battery-powered equipment when arguing that California needs a clearer end-of-life management pathway for these batteries.
Shifting Costs From Communities to Producers
Cost is also central to the debate.
When batteries enter municipal waste systems, local governments, waste operators and ultimately ratepayers can be left covering the costs associated with collection, handling and disposal.
Supporters of SB 501 argue that producers should carry more of that responsibility.
Resource Recycling reports that the National Stewardship Action Council, Resource Recovery Coalition of California and Rural County Representatives of California have supported the measure in part because it would shift more of the cost of managing battery waste and related fire risks away from local governments and ratepayers and toward producers.
The Bill Would Also Tighten Recycling Oversight
SB 501 does more than expand which batteries are covered. The legislation would also change how stewardship programs document collection, recycling and financial performance.
Separate Collection Requirements
Stewardship organizations would need to address collection-site coverage separately for small-format and medium-format batteries.
That means the two battery categories could not simply be treated as one collection network. Stewardship plans would need to demonstrate how consumers can access appropriate collection options for each category.
The distinction is particularly relevant for medium-format batteries, which can differ significantly from smaller household batteries in size, weight and handling requirements.
Recycling Rates and Financial Controls
The bill would also increase oversight of the organizations operating battery stewardship programs.
According to Resource Recycling, stewardship organizations would need to demonstrate adequate financial controls, while program audits would follow U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
Program operators would also need to show that minimum recycling rates are being achieved by battery type.
Those provisions give state regulators additional ways to evaluate whether stewardship programs are actually collecting and recycling the batteries they are responsible for managing.
Longer Recordkeeping Requirements
SB 501 would extend certain recordkeeping requirements from three years to five years.
Producers, stewardship organizations and program operators could be required to maintain records involving areas such as battery collection, transportation and recycling.
The longer retention period would give regulators a larger window for reviewing program activity and compliance.
Expanded State Inspection Authority
California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control would also receive expanded inspection authority under the bill.
That authority would extend to producers, recyclers and battery collection sites involved in the program.
Resource Recycling also reports that the legislation updates requirements involving the department’s Office of Environmental Justice, Tribal Relations, Education and Outreach and adds coordination with California Native American tribes.
Recycling and Waste Companies Split Over SB 501
SB 501 has received significant support from waste, recycling and product stewardship organizations, but the proposal has also faced opposition from some companies and industry groups.
Support for Expanded Battery EPR
Organizations supporting the legislation include the National Stewardship Action Council, Resource Recovery Coalition of California, Rural County Representatives of California, Recology, Republic Services, Californians Against Waste and the California Product Stewardship Council.
Waste Dive also identified the Product Stewardship Institute and several local governments and solid waste authorities among the bill’s supporters.
Supporters generally argue that the legislation would close gaps in California’s existing battery program, establish clearer end-of-life collection pathways and reduce the number of batteries entering traditional waste streams.
They also point to fire prevention and cost shifting as major benefits, arguing that producers should take greater responsibility for managing products they place on the market.
Redwood Materials Raises Concerns
Not everyone in the recycling industry agrees with the proposed approach.
Battery recycler Redwood Materials has opposed the inclusion of lithium-ion batteries in SB 501.
According to Resource Recycling, Redwood has argued that California should make greater use of its existing battery, e-waste and metals recycling infrastructure instead of relying heavily on a third-party stewardship collection system.
Waste Dive reported a similar concern from the company, which argued that the legislation does not fully take advantage of established advanced battery recycling, e-waste and metals recycling infrastructure.
The American Chemistry Council, Can Manufacturers Institute and California Retailers Association have also opposed the bill, raising concerns related to logistics and compliance.
California Is Increasing Its Focus on Battery Waste
SB 501 is not the only battery-related measure California lawmakers advanced during the latest legislative session.
Waste Dive reports that lawmakers also moved forward with legislation addressing disposable vapes containing embedded batteries. One proposal would phase out the import and manufacture of new or refurbished battery-embedded disposable vapes beginning in 2027 and prohibit their sale beginning in 2028.
Another measure would direct the Department of Toxic Substances Control to address disposal options for vape devices, particularly products confiscated by schools. The legislation would also allow household hazardous waste facilities to mechanically disassemble certain vape devices so individual components can be processed.
Together, the measures illustrate California’s broader attention to products containing batteries as their use becomes more widespread throughout consumer products and equipment.
What Happens Next for SB 501?
The California Legislature has completed its work on SB 501. The next decision belongs to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Newsom signed the original Responsible Battery Recycling Act into law in 2022. He now has until October 14, 2026, to sign or veto SB 501 following its passage during the final days of the legislative session.
If signed, the legislation would represent another expansion of California’s producer-responsibility approach to batteries, bringing a growing category of e-bike, outdoor equipment and portable power batteries more directly into the state’s collection and recycling framework.
For businesses managing used, damaged or end-of-life batteries, our battery recycling services can help provide a responsible recycling solution for a wide range of battery types.
