FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Products with a battery embedded inside them, such as gaming controllers and phones may soon get more expensive after the signing of Senate Bill 1215 and Assembly Bill 2440 on Monday.
Governor Gavin Newson signed SB 1215 and AB 2440 as part of a legislative climate package aimed at increasing battery recycling in California. This is in part due to the rising number of fires in material recovery facilities, waste collection trucks, and landfills. Experts say these kinds of fires pose serious toxic threats to the health and safety of workers, firefighters, and the surrounding community.
AB 2440 is also known as the Responsibility Battery Act of 2022. It would require battery producers to establish, fund, and operate a stewardship program for the collection and recycling of covered batteries, and covered battery-embedded products. They…