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California's New Battery Fee: What You'll Pay
3 Jan
Summary
- Californians now pay a 1.5% fee on products with non-removable batteries.
- The fee expands an existing recycling program for electronic waste.
- It aims to prevent fires and costly damage at recycling facilities.
Beginning this year, California consumers will incur a new 1.5% fee, capped at $15, on purchases of products featuring non-removable batteries. This surcharge extends the state's two-decade-old recycling program for electronics like monitors and TVs. The legislation, Senate Bill 1215 signed into law in 2022, targets items such as power tools, gaming consoles, and even greeting cards with embedded batteries.
The new fee is designed to address the growing issue of lithium-ion batteries ending up in landfills, which pose fire risks. In 2016, a fire at a San Mateo County recycling facility caused $8.5 million in damage and led to a significant insurance premium increase. Proponents argue this small consumer fee is far less costly than managing million-dollar fires and subsequent rate hikes for communities.
While single-use vapes are currently exempt due to concerns over nicotine handling, legislative efforts are underway to ban them entirely. The state is also addressing larger-scale battery storage safety, with new regulations for battery storage systems taking effect this year. These measures are critical as California transitions away from fossil fuels, necessitating responsible battery disposal.
