• Introduced: February 19, 2025 

• Co-Sponsors: National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC) and Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), Resource Recovery Coalition of California (RRCC) 

• Author: Senator Ben Allen (D–Santa Monica)

• Bill Text: SB 501 on Leg Info

• Factsheet: SB 501 Responsible Battery Recycling Act Factsheet

• Coalition Letter: SB 501 Responsible Battery Recycling Act Coalition Support Letter

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CA SB 501 Overview 

The National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC), the Resource Recovery Coalition of California (RRCC), and the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) are pleased to co-sponsor California’s SB 501 (Allen), which will add medium-format batteries to California’s existing Responsible Battery Recycling Act of 2022 and thereby require the producers of those products to join the PRO to provide a convenient collection and management system for Californians. The legislature has been aware of the problems associated with battery disposal for years, passing AB 2440 (Irwin) and SB 1215 (Newman) in 2022. AB 2440 requires the producers of loose batteries to set up a producer-run take-back program in California while SB 1215 added battery embedded products to the state’s e-waste program.  SB501 builds on these programs making it more efficient and will build on the existing rulemaking process already underway for the 2022 legislation. 

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Key Provisions of CA SB 501 

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• Adds medium-format batteries to California’s Responsible Battery Recycling Act 

• Requires producers of those batteries to provide a convenient collection and management system for Californians 

• Ensures manufacturers bear financial responsibility for the products they introduce into the stream of commerce 

• Creates incentives for safer product design and easier end-of-life management by making proper disposal more convenient and affordable for residents 

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Why It Matters 

Batteries have been required to be collected separately and managed as universal waste since 2006, but newer chemistries like lithium ion have significantly increased collection and management costs for local governments and damaged batteries have caused fires that pose significant risks to essential workers, infrastructure, such as trucks and recycling facilities, and the environment. Local governments are responsible for the operation of local solid waste and household hazardous waste collection programs, which offer residents free drop-off opportunities for household hazardous waste (sometimes curbside services), including batteries, but the costs and fires associated with managing newer and larger batteries have quickly escalated and are unsustainable. These programs are expensive and put serious financial pressure on both the programs and local governments that operate them. Medium-format batteries like those used in e-bikes, scooters, and hoverboards are much larger than conventional batteries but aren’t covered under the state’s existing stewardship and recycling programs. Local governments and the solid waste industry have no control over which products will be introduced into the marketplace and cannot burden ratepayers and taxpayers with the full cost of managing these products and socialize the costs.  Insurance costs are skyrocketing in the industry due to fires burning trucks, collection and recycling facilities, and landfills also endangering our essential workers. ​

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Support and Rationale 

SB 501 ensures that manufacturers of these larger batteries bear financial responsibility for the management and disposal of the products they introduce into the stream of commerce. By doing so and making proper disposal opportunities more convenient and affordable for residents, SB 501 will incentivize manufacturers to make those products safer and easier to manage at the end of their useful lives.  

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NSAC’s Executive Director/CEO Heidi Sanborn chaired the California Commission on Recycling Markets and Curbside Recycling, which was comprised of 16 experts representing materials management companies, local governments, unions, and NGOs. The Commission unanimously recommended that the legislature, “pass EPR framework legislation to establish and maintain a convenient and fully funded recovery system for all hazardous products - including residuals and their containers as they are contaminants to other recycling/composting streams.” According to the Commission, “in the absence of such a system, the variety and volume of hazards in the discard and recovery streams continues to expand,” which can endanger our materials management workers.  She starts every presentation with what was in the Commission’s report to the legislature – First, Stop The Fires”.  The materials management industry is at risk of having insurance companies leave the market and would not have the funds to self-insure, thereby risking the entire materials management system. 

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Batteries are one of the most dangerous products that still require a statewide management plan and funded program to collect and properly recycle, which will additionally support sustainable supply chains for metals needed to make the next generation of products. For these reasons, we are proud to co-sponsor SB 501 as amended. ​​