Bill > SB686

This bill establishes a comprehensive Battery Stewardship Program in Maryland that requires battery producers to create and implement a plan for collecting and recycling batteries. Specifically, producers must submit a battery stewardship plan to the Department of the Environment by July 1, 2026, and every five years thereafter, which must outline how they will collect and recycle various types of batteries (including portable, medium-format, and primary batteries) at no cost to consumers. The plan must include performance goals for collection and recycling rates, with targets of at least 60% for rechargeable batteries and 70% for primary batteries. Producers must create a financing method that apportions program costs among participating producers and encourages battery design that reduces environmental impacts. A Battery Stewardship Advisory Council will be established to provide guidance, and battery stewardship organizations must provide free collection sites throughout the state, making battery recycling as convenient as trash disposal. Starting January 1, 2027, producers cannot sell batteries in Maryland without an approved stewardship plan, and they must submit annual reports detailing their progress. The bill aims to improve battery recycling rates, reduce environmental waste, and create a standardized system for battery disposal across the state.

Education

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0686?ys=2025RS