Batteries have been a longstanding issue in the waste industry, and many states are now passing extended producer responsibility (EPR) bills to enforce proper e-waste disposal. Colorado recently added a battery EPR to its state law that sets overall recycling targets of at least 60 percent for rechargeable batteries and 70 percent for primary batteries. It allows for multiple producer responsibility organizations (PROs). Multiple organizations backed the bill alongside Boulder County, including Recycle Colorado, National Waste and Recycling Association Rocky Mountain Chapter, and Green Latinos.
“Our organizations share a desire to make our waste systems safer and to capture the value in our discards, and this cooperative effort resulted in a successful bill which will contribute to both goals in the future,” said Recycle Colorado. “We want to give a special thanks to everyone who helped us talk to our legislators about the importance of keeping batteries out of the trash and recycling and capturing the materials to be used in future batteries.”
SB 163 covers all types of small and medium format batteries that can be easily removed from products. It requires producers to fully fund collection, processing, transportation, and recycling or responsible disposal. The bill also requires safety training and standards for service providers to reduce battery fire risks, and allows retailers and communities to opt in to providing collection events while prohibiting retailers from charging a point-of-sale fee for EPR costs.
The bill text states, “It is in the public interest of Colorado residents to reduce the inherent risk of fires that can occur when batteries are improperly disposed of and to encourage the recovery of valuable materials in batteries that can be put back into the supply chain. Without a coordinated battery stewardship program, consumers will remain confused about proper battery disposal.”
Lithium-Ion Batteries Present Many Obstacles for Processors
Batteries have been a pain point in the e-waste industry for years, but lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) present the most difficult challenges due to their explosive nature. LIBs undergo self-discharge, which can lead to a thermal runaway, causing a significant electrical shortage. During a thermal runaway, the heat from a failed cell can spread to the next one, making it also thermally unstable. This reaction can start a chemical fire, which is significantly more difficult to extinguish and can reignite hours later.
Most battery fires occur in materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and continue to increase in numbers, making battery safety and battery EPRs extremely important. IT asset management, including proper storage, packaging, and safe battery removal, is critical in battery fire prevention. ITAD providers like HOBI undergo training and take special precautions when handling lithium-ion batteries during battery removal.
As an R2v3, RIOS, and IS0 14001 certified IT asset management and disposition enterprise with more than 30 years of experience in the waste disposal industry, HOBI prioritizes the safety of employees with fire safety practices and special tools during the disposition process.
For more information about our ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.