Bill > LB309

This bill establishes the Safe Battery Collection and Recycling Act, creating a comprehensive framework for the collection and recycling of portable and medium-format batteries in Nebraska. The legislation requires battery producers to join a battery stewardship organization that must develop and implement a detailed plan approved by the Department of Environment and Energy, with the primary goal of establishing a statewide battery collection and recycling system. Starting January 1, 2028, producers must be part of a battery stewardship organization, and batteries must be marked with producer identification and chemistry information. The bill mandates the creation of a robust collection network, requiring at least one permanent collection site within a fifteen-mile radius for 95% of state residents and collection sites or events across counties. Battery stewardship organizations must develop extensive educational and outreach programs, provide free battery collection, and submit annual reports detailing their collection, recycling, and financial activities. The legislation also prohibits disposing of covered batteries in landfills or with regular waste, imposes civil penalties for non-compliance, and establishes a Battery Stewardship Cash Fund to support the program's implementation. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for ongoing evaluation of battery collection and recycling practices, with the department required to review studies from other states and report recommendations to the Legislature.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59404