The bill, known as H.695, "Act Relating to Establishing a Product Stewardship Program for Primary Batteries," requires approval from the Vermont Governor, Peter Shumlin.
Once signed by Shumlin, the bill will become the first extended producer responsibility (EPR) law in the US that requires single-use battery manufacturers to develop a program for collecting and recycling batteries at their end of life.
Chittenden Solid Waste District compliance program and product stewardship manager and president of Vermont Product Stewardship Council Jennifer Holliday said, "Although the bill doesn’t address all of the issues that industry sought to resolve, it provides a great foundation for what is needed to achieve what we all wanted – a collection system to keep batteries out of the waste stream."
North America’s first and largest battery stewardship program Call2Recycle reacted on the passage of the bill.
Call2Recycle CEO & president Carl Smith said, "We look forward to working with the battery industry in developing, submitting and operating a plan that ensures Vermont has the most successful battery collection and recycling program in North America."
Image: The bill requires single-use battery manufacturers to develop a program for collecting and recycling batteries. Photo: Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
