BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2284
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2284 (Williams)
As Amended May 27, 2014
Majority vote
NATURAL RESOURCES 6-3 APPROPRIATIONS 12-4
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|Ayes:|Chesbro, Garcia, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bocanegra, |
| |Muratsuchi, Skinner, | |Bradford, |
| |Stone, Williams | |Ian Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Eggman, Gomez, Holden, |
| | | |Pan, Quirk, |
| | | |Ridley-Thomas, Weber |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Grove, Bigelow, Patterson |Nays:|Bigelow, Donnelly, Jones, |
| | | |Wagner |
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SUMMARY : Requires the Department of Resources Recycling and
Recovery (CalRecycle) to develop and fund up to three local
recycling pilot projects for non-rechargeable household
batteries. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires CalRecycle to develop and fund up to three local
battery recycling pilot projects, and requires each projects
to provide specified data to CalRecycle.
2)Requires CalRecycle, within six months of the completion of
the pilot projects, to review and compile the information
collected and make the information available to local
governments and local enforcement agencies for assistance in
planning future diversion activities.
3)Requires CalRecycle to use the results of the pilot projects
to develop informational guidelines to assist local
governments that elect to include battery recycling as part of
their solid waste diversion programs.
4)Appropriates $1.5 million to CalRecycle from the Integrated
Waste Management Account.
5)Defines "household batteries" as batteries made of mercury,
alkaline, carbon-zinc, nickel-cadmium, and other batteries
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typically generated as household waste, including, but not
limited to, batteries used in hearing aids, cameras, watches,
computers, calculators, flashlights, lanterns, standby and
emergency lighting, portable radio and television sets,
meters, toys, and clocks, but excluding lead-acid batteries.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Under the California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989,
requires each city or county to divert 50% of solid waste from
landfill disposal or transformation on and after January 1,
2000. Establishes a statewide policy goal that not less than
75% of solid waste be source reduced, recycled, or composted
on and after January 1, 2020.
2)Establishes the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act, which
requires every retailer of rechargeable batteries to have in
place a system for the acceptance and collection of used
rechargeable batteries for reuse, recycling, or proper
disposal.
3)Establishes the Dry Cell Battery Management Act, which
establishes requirements for the production and labeling of
consumer products with dry cell batteries and sets limits on
the amount of mercury in those batteries.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, $1.5 million appropriation to CalRecycle from the
Integrated Waste Management Account.
COMMENTS : In California, household batteries are classified as
universal waste, which includes materials that the Department of
Toxic Substances Control has determined are hazardous waste that
are ubiquitous and contain mercury, lead, cadmium, copper, or
other substances hazardous to human and environmental health.
Since 2006, universal waste has been prohibited from disposal in
solid waste landfills.
Currently, local household hazardous waste collection programs
are the primary outlet for proper management of universal waste
and other hazardous wastes generated by households, including
batteries. Cost estimates to manage waste batteries average
around $800 per ton (with some costing up to $2,700 per ton),
amounting to tens of millions of dollars each year. With
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decreasing revenues and increasing responsibilities on local
governments, another solution is necessary to manage these
products. Many local governments have greatly decreased their
household hazardous waste programs, leaving few management
options for the public.
The non-profit organization Call2Recycle is working in North
America to collect and recycle rechargeable batteries.
Call2Recycle operates under the Rechargeable Battery Recycling
Corporation to promote "environmental sustainability by
providing free battery and cell phone recycling in North
America." The Call2Recycle program for rechargeable battery and
cell phone recycling is available to residents, retailers,
businesses, communities, municipalities, and public agencies in
the US and Canada. The program was created in 1994 and is
funded by battery and product manufacturers to raise awareness
about the importance of battery recycling and to promote product
stewardship initiatives.
The prior version of this bill established a product stewardship
program for non-rechargeable household batteries. As amended by
the Assembly Appropriations Committee, the bill now requires
battery recycling pilot projects.
Analysis Prepared by : Elizabeth MacMillan / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092
FN: 0003884