Battery stewardship
In 2023, the Legislature passed a law creating a product stewardship program for batteries. This new law requires battery producers to create a statewide collection system for portable batteries by Jan. 1, 2027, and for medium format batteries by Jan. 1, 2029. Portable batteries are those found in things such as your phone, laptop, flashlight, and power tools. Medium format batteries are used in lawnmowers and electric bikes.
The law requires a battery stewardship organization to submit a plan to Ecology by July 1, 2026, describing how the program will operate, including:
- Participating producers
- Transporters, processors, and disposal facilities to be used
- How the program will be funded
- Performance goals
- Consumer outreach
- Safety procedures
Electric Vehicle (EV) Battery Management Study
The bill also requires us to research the management of electric vehicle batteries and provide recommendations to the Legislature via a preliminary legislative report in November 2023, and a final report in April 2024.
We submitted the Electric Vehicle (EV) Battery Management Study Preliminary Report to the Washington State Legislature on Dec. 4, 2023. The report lays out initial research findings and identifies remaining questions related to EV battery management. The report addresses critical questions related to end-of-life pathways for EV batteries, volume projections, relevant regulations, economic implications, and considerations pertaining to battery chemistry.
We will submit a final report with policy recommendations to the Legislature in April 2024.
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Related links
Contact information
Megan Warfield
Product Stewardship Unit Supervisor
megan.warfield@ecy.wa.gov
360-701-9683