The growth of mobile device usage is contributing to the global spike in battery fires. The small, handheld devices we use every day such as smartphones, smartwatches, earbuds, tablets etc. all contain non-removable batteries that are causing more waste facility fires due to improper disposition and poor labeling. In 2022, California passed SB 1215, expanding the state’s Electronic Waste Recycling Act to include covered battery-embedded products. The bill imposed a 1.5 percent point-of-sale fee for consumers to cover recycling fees, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
California is not the only state making a change. As non-removable batteries continue to drive an increase in facility battery fires, more states are taking action through legislation to address the issue, causing an industry-wide shift for mobile end-of-life.
The Battery Problem in a Mobile-Dominated Landscape
Batteries have always been part of the electronics conversation, but have become a major industry hurdle due to the global rise of mobile device usage. Most electronic devices today contain Lithium-Ion batteries, which are notorious for their explosive nature, and many are unaware that there are multiple types of lithium batteries. For example, lithium-ion batteries are made with liquid electrolytes in rigid metal cases, resulting in high density for laptops and other tools. Lithium-polymer batteries use gel or solid electrolytes in lightweight, flexible pouches, allowing for thin, customizable shapes used in devices such as phones and drones. The problem is that more mobile devices are being designed with embedded batteries. Embedded batteries are built into cells inside devices and cannot be removed, which presents significant challenges to the e-waste industry.
More than 3 billion batteries are thrown away annually in the United States alone, totaling to about 180,000 tons of hazardous waste. As a result, battery-embedded devices are transported in garbage trucks and often damaged in the process, causing hundreds of garbage truck fires per year. These devices are also transported to end-of-life facilities, where they cause large-scale facility fires. The majority of these battery fires are due to improper disposal and poor labeling, which many states are combating via battery legislation.
SB 1215: The Expansion of CA’s Electronic Waste Recycling Act
In 2003, California passed the Electronics Waste Recycling Act, which ensures the safe disposal of hazardous waste, prevents the illegal dumping of e-waste, and provides free recycling opportunities to consumers. In 2022, California expanded its existing EWR Act to include covered battery-embedded products. Essentially, consumers will pay a 1.5 percent fee on items with non-removable batteries at the point of sale. Capped at $15, the fee is designed to fund safe disposal and help reduce e-waste facility fires.
This change was designed to force a shift from unmanaged or poorly managed e-waste disposal, to subsidized, tightly regulated recycling avenues.
How This Affects The Mobile ITAD Industry
The shift in battery regulations focuses on safe e-waste recycling for battery-embedded devices, especially mobile device ITAD. SB 1215 targets several areas to help improve mobile e-waste recycling and reduce fires.
Mitigation of Waste Facility Fires – First and foremost, fire mitigation. By classifying sealed mobile devices as “covered electronic waste,” the new legislation diverts battery-embedded devices away from municipal waste streams. Additionally, more waste facilities are noticing a push for flame-resistant transport.
Hidden Cost Reduction – Processing adhesive-sealed mobile devices was historically a costly, labor-intensive job for EOL facilities because of the danger batteries presented when damaged. SB 1215 enables e-waste facilities to safely expand mobile device processing without the hidden cost of tedious battery extraction.
Increased Transparency Standards – Many facility fires stem from poor labeling. When EOL facilities receive battery-containing devices, it’s often a guessing game as to what materials they are handling. Under SB 1215, manufacturers must disclose the exact battery chemistry on packaging or the company website. This eliminates the guessing and streamlines the ITAD process by enabling EOL facilities to funnel specific devices and materials into the appropriate path without guesswork.
The Right to Repair Angle – SB 1215 works cohesively with California’s Right to Repair Act by ensuring that recycling is fully funded once a device becomes “unfixable”. For EOL processors, this means a streamlined disposition process via the ability to efficiently separate repairable devices and instantly route irreparable devices into the state recycling system.
The Rise of Mobile End-of-Life Legislation
California is not the only state tackling the battery-embedded device problem. More than 30 U.S. states have some sort of battery legislation in place to help improve mobile EOL and mitigate battery fires. Legislation such as EPR programs and rechargeable battery disposal bans are actively reshaping mobile end-of-life by targeting specific issues that contribute to the battery fire problem.
How Safe Battery Removal Supports a Circular Economic Model
Battery removal is a critical step in value recovery and device reuse. If an expired battery cannot be removed from a device, the device cannot be reused and any additional value is wasted. ITAD enterprises focus on supporting a circular economic model through mobile device services like repair, refurbishment, and resale. Batteries present a large challenge for IT asset disposition because they hinder the value recovery process. Enterprises miss out on opportunities to increase ROI when their devices become a cohesive “brick.” Safe battery removal provides increased ROI opportunities and helps reduce the demand for new devices to be manufactured through retired device resale.
Contact a Mobile ITAD Service Provider Now
IT asset disposition closes the circular loop with mobile device management services that increase device value by keeping retired mobile IT assets in circulation.
Proactivity is the best practice for preventing battery fires. Planning ahead prevents costly, overreactive cleanup that will drain enterprise budget and mark companies as a financial risk to partners. Poor battery handling leads to detrimental financial, compliance, and safety consequences. Mobility isn’t going anywhere; it’s only growing, and responsible lithium battery handling is non-negotiable as a core element of modern-day ITAD.
The mobile ITAD battery challenge is an ongoing battle. Don’t wait for your state to update battery laws. Contact HOBI today at 877-814-2620 or sales@hobi.com to discuss compliant mobile ITAD.