23rd Annual Maine Recycling and Solid Waste Conference & Trade Show Battery Stewardship Todd Ellis, Director, Stewardship Programs © 2015 Call2Recycle® All rights reserved
Who is Call2Recycle, Inc.? Founded in 1994 to deal with emerging state and federal regulation First and most successful product stewardship program in North America Official Stewardship organization for primary battery collections in BC, Manitoba, Quebec and Vermont with a voluntary program across United States and Canada No-cost to consumers, retailers and participants - 100% funded by manufacturers Over 100 million pounds of batteries and cellphones collected since inception First program of its kind to receive Responsible Recycling® (R2:2013) Certification.
Why Batteries? “Heavy Metals” & the “Battery Act” Patch work of State Legislation Industry Compliance for Used Batteries Rechargeable = Recycle Primary = Trash
States with “Battery” Laws
Why Now? Shift in Thinking Resource Management MIT Study Free Riders
And Here We Are Corporation for Battery Recycling Legislation Needed Vermont – Primary Battery Law Horse has left the Barn
Battery Bills 2013-2016
2016 Focus Legislation - CT, ME, NY, CA LD 1578: An Act to Update Maine’s Solid Waste Management Laws. Section 1 – Battery Stewardship Laws “Champion” – Senator Saviello ALL batteries No Carve Outs Private Right of Action Voluntary Collection/No Disposal Ban Did not pass – future uncertain
Vermont Numbers …
Maine Numbers …
Maine Numbers … ~ 36,000 pounds of rechargeable batteries per year. 200 collection locations. Currently, 85% of the population is within 10 miles of a publicly accessible collection site.
What happens to batteries?
Todd Ellis, Director, Stewardship Programs Call2Recycle, Inc. 678.218.1086 tellis@call2recycle.org