Implementation of the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act

1EPA

United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

EPA530-K-97-009
November 1997
http://www.epa.gov

Implementation of the

Mercury-Containing and

Rechargeable Battery

Management Act

Solid Waste And
Emergency Response
(5306W)

Closing
the Loop
with Rechargeable
Batteries

1EP

United States Environmental Protection

Agency

401 M Street, SW

. (5305W)

ashington, DC 20460

Of
ficial Business

Penalty for Private Use

$300

COVERS6.QXD 12/15/97 10:21 AM Page 2

Introduction

hether at work or at home, more and more Americans are
enjoying the convenience of rechargeable batteries.

They’re being used in cellular phones, laptop computers, cordless
power tools, and video cameras. In fact, more than 350 million
rechargeable batteries are purchased annually in the United States.
When thrown away, these batteries can contribute to the toxicity
levels of landfills and incinerator ash, as many of
them contain heavy metals. Recycling
rechargeable batteries not only gives new life
to discarded products—it helps prevent the
release of hazardous constituents into the
environment.

On May 13, 1996, President Clinton signed into
law the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable
Battery Management Act (the Battery Act). This Act
represents a major step forward in the effort to
facilitate the recycling of nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd)
and certain small sealed lead-acid (SSLA) rechargeable batteries
and to phase out the use of mercury in batteries.

This booklet explains what this important law means to you. It
equips readers with the “basics” on the Battery Act and provides
information on successful recycling programs for rechargeable bat-
teries. In this booklet, you will find:

■

A summary of state and federal requirements affecting battery
recycling prior to passage of the Battery Act

■

A summary of the Act’s requirements

■

Why proper disposal or recycling is necessary for Ni-Cd and
SSLA batteries

■

State, local, and private-sector initiatives to recycle used
rechargeable batteries

Recycling recharge-

able batteries not

only gives new life to

discarded products—

it helps prevent the

release of hazardous

constituents into the

environment.

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 1

cknowledging the steady increase in the use of recharge-
able batteries, as well as potential environmental impacts

resulting from their improper disposal, Congress passed the Battery
Act to facilitate the increased collection and recycling of Ni-Cd
and certain SSLA rechargeable batteries. The Act targets battery
and product manufacturers and battery waste handlers—not con-
sumers. Different sections of the Act apply to different types of
batteries. Specifically, the Act:

■

Establishes national, uniform labeling requirements for
Ni-Cd and certain SSLA rechargeable batteries.

■

Mandates that Ni-Cd and certain SSLA rechargeable batter-
ies be “easily removable” from consumer products. A battery
can be easily removed if it is detachable or removable from
the product with the use of common household tools.

■

Makes the Universal Waste Rule (see page 4) effective
immediately in all 50 states for the collection, storage, and
transportation of batteries covered by the Battery Act. (For a list of
covered batteries, see EPA’s codification rule, expected to be
promulgated in late 1997. That rule will codify the require-
ments of Section 104 of the Battery Act into Title 40 of the
Code of Federal Regulations.)

■

Requires EPA to establish a public education program on
battery recycling and the proper handling and disposal of
used batteries. EPA is required to consult with manufacturers
and retailers to carry out this initiative.

■

Prohibits, or otherwise conditions, the sale of certain types of
mercury-containing batteries (i.e., alkaline-manganese, zinc-
carbon, button cell mercuric-oxide, and other mercuric-
oxide batteries) in the United States.

Battery Act At A Glance

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 2

State and Federal
Requirements Affecting
Battery Recycling Prior
to the Battery Act

rior to the Battery Act, 13 states took the lead by passing
laws to facilitate the collection and recycling of used

rechargeable batteries. These laws required that rechargeable dry
cell batteries be labeled as recyclable and be easily removable
from consumer products. The 13 states are California,
Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and
Vermont. All of these states except California, New Hampshire,
New York, and Oregon also established battery collection and
recycling programs.

Although somewhat similar, there were slight differences in the laws
enacted by the states. The laws differed in whether the battery
labels were required to include the three chasing arrows
or some other recycling symbol, the manufacturer’s
name, or a toll-free telephone number. There were
also differences regarding whether the text must appear
on the product or the packaging, in the instruction
manual, or on the battery itself.

On the federal level, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) regulates hazardous wastes and establishes comprehensive
reporting, handling, and transportation requirements for hazardous
wastes. Since batteries often contain hazardous or potentially haz-
ardous constituents, many batteries, including Ni-Cd and SSLA
rechargeable batteries, may be regulated under RCRA. The law
does exempt household waste, which often includes some batteries.
In addition, certain small businesses (i.e., conditionally exempt
small quantity generators) may be exempt from some RCRA regu-
lations under certain circumstances. Other businesses and institu-
tions that handle batteries that are hazardous waste may be sub-
ject to the full array of hazardous waste regulations.

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 3

What Is the Universal Waste Rule?

In May 1995, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pro-
mulgated the Universal Waste Rule to reduce the amount of haz-
ardous wastes entering the municipal solid waste stream, encour-
age the recycling and proper disposal of certain common haz-
ardous wastes, and reduce the regulatory burden on businesses

that generate these wastes by simplifying the
applicable regulations and making them easier to
comply with. This rule recognizes that some com-
mon hazardous wastes—such as used Ni-Cd
rechargeable batteries—do not require the full
array of hazardous waste regulatory requirements.
It also eases the regulatory burden on battery
handlers and transporters by streamlining a num-
ber of RCRA’s hazardous waste collection and
management requirements, including those relat-
ed to notification, labeling/marking, accumula-
tion time limits, employee training, and offsite
shipment, among others. For example, the
Universal Waste Rule extends the amount of time

that certain businesses can accumulate used rechargeable batter-
ies on site. It also allows certain companies to transport them with
a common carrier, instead of a hazardous waste transporter.

The Universal Waste Rule, however, does not automatically apply
in each state. In states authorized by EPA to implement the Federal
hazardous waste program, the rule is not applicable until those
states revise their programs to adopt equivalent requirements
under state law and receive authorization from EPA.

Hence, prior to passage of the Battery Act, a battery recycling pro-
gram spanning across several states had to comply with varying,
and sometimes conflicting, state labeling and waste management
regulations. In some states, the rechargeable batteries were subject
to the full array of hazardous waste requirements, while in other
states the rechargeable batteries were subject to the reduced
Universal Waste Rule requirements.

Prior to passage of

the Battery Act, a

battery recycling

program spanning

across several

states had to comply

with varying, and

sometimes conflict-

ing, state labeling

and waste manage-

ment regulations.

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 4

nlike single-use batteries, which must be replaced once
their charge is used up, rechargeable batteries are

designed for the long haul. Depending on the application,
some rechargeable batteries can recharge up to 1,000 times!
Recharging the battery simply reverses the chemical reaction
inside it. This changes the battery’s components nearly back to
their original state and allows them to be reused.

About 80 percent of rechargeable batteries
are currently composed of nickel and cadmium
(known as “Ni-Cd”). Ni-Cd rechargeable
batteries are commonly found in cellular
and cordless telephones, video cameras,
portable power tools, and laptop computers.
The use of these batteries continues to grow.
It has been estimated that one-half billion
Ni-Cd batteries will be sold in the year 2000.

Small sealed lead acid batteries (SSLA)
are used in emergency lighting, security
and alarm systems, computer backup
devices, and hospital equipment. They
are also used in cellular phones, laptop
computers, and power tools.

Rechargeable batteries may initially be more expensive than single-
use batteries, and they sometimes require the purchase of a
recharger, but the upfront costs are often outweighed by the long-
term cost savings and environmental benefits of rechargeables.
Each rechargeable battery may substitute for hundreds of single-use
batteries over its useful life. (See Section 3 of the Act for the spe-
cific definition of “rechargeable battery” as it applies to the Act.)

What Are Rechargeable
Batteries?

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 5

Requirements of the
Battery Act

here are two major sections of the Battery
Act. The first section, or Title I, facilitates

the efficient recycling of Ni-Cd, certain SSLA, and other recharge-
able batteries. The second section, or Title II, phases out the use of
batteries that contain mercury.

Title I: Rechargeable Batteries

The Battery Act changed the regulatory framework governing recharge-
able batteries. It streamlined the framework in an effort to remove
the regulatory barriers to increased recycling of rechargeable batteries.
Below is a summary of Title I’s major provisions and requirements.

Section 103: Easy Removability and Labeling Requirements for
Rechargeable Batteries and Products

The Act establishes national, uniform labeling requirements for reg-
ulated batteries and rechargeable consumer products and man-
dates that regulated batteries manufactured after May 13, 1997 be
“easily removable” from consumer products. A battery can be “eas-
ily removed” if it is detachable or removable from the product with
the use of common household tools. The term “regulated battery”
refers to Ni-Cd, certain SSLA, and, in the future, other rechargeable
batteries and battery packs if EPA decides to add them to the list.
(See Section 3 of the Act for the specific definitions of “easily
removable,” “regulated battery,” “rechargeable battery,” “recharge-
able consumer product,” and other important terms as they apply to
the Act. See in particular Section 3(5)(C) for an understanding of
which types of lead-acid batteries are subject to Section 103.)

The requirements of Section 103 include:

■

Regulated batteries must bear the 3 chasing arrows or a compa-
rable recycling symbol.

■

Nickel-cadmium batteries must be labeled “nickel-cadmium” or
“Ni-Cd,” with the phrase “BATTERY MUST BE RECYCLED OR
DISPOSED OF PROPERLY.”

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 6

■

Regulated lead-acid batteries must be labeled “Pb” or with the
words “LEAD,” “RETURN,” and “RECYCLE” and, if the regulated
batteries are sealed, the phrase “BATTERY MUST BE RECYCLED.”

■

Rechargeable consumer products containing nonremovable
Ni-Cd batteries must be labeled with the phrase “CONTAINS
NICKEL-CADMIUM BATTERY. BATTERY MUST BE RECYCLED
OR DISPOSED OF PROPERLY.”

■

Rechargeable consumer products containing nonremovable
regulated lead-acid batteries must be labeled with the phrase
“CONTAINS SEALED LEAD BATTERY. BATTERY MUST BE
RECYCLED.”

■

The required labeling also must be carried on the packaging of
rechargeable consumer products containing regulated batteries
that are not easily removable, and on the packaging of regulat-
ed batteries that are sold separately from such products, if the
labeling on the product or battery is not visible through the
packaging.

■

Battery and product manufacturers may use a different label if it
conveys the same information as described above or it conforms
with a recognized international standard that is consistent with the
intent of the Battery Act. The manufacturers, however, must apply
for EPA certification. (Until May 13, 1998, no certification is need-
ed if the label is in “substantial compliance” with Section 103.)

■

No municipality, state, or federal agency may enforce any easy
removability or labeling requirement for a rechargeable battery
or product that is not identical to that described in Section 103
of the Battery Act.

■

Rechargeable consumer product manufacturers may petition EPA
for an exemption from the easy removability requirement by
showing that a product with easily removable batteries and with
equivalent performance could not be made without posing a
threat to human health, safety, or the environment, or without
violating other public or private standards.

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 7

Section 104: Battery Waste Management and the Universal
Waste Rule

The other major provision of Title I involves the federal Universal
Waste Rule. To prevent states from having different regulations for
managing batteries covered by the Battery Act, the Act made the
Universal Waste Rule for covered batteries effective in all 50 states
since May 13, 1996. This provides national uniformity in the col-
lection, storage, and transportation of used Ni-Cd and certain
other rechargeable batteries and certain mercury-containing bat-
teries. (For a list of batteries covered by Section 104 of the Act, see
EPA’s codification rule, expected to be promulgated in late 1997.)

The Battery Act also preempts state legislative and regulatory

authority for the collection, storage, and transportation of

covered batteries. Normally, under RCRA, states can choose

to be more stringent than the federal government. The

Battery Act, however, does not give states the option of
establishing more stringent regulations than specified in

the Act, in regard to the collection, storage, and trans-

portation of covered batteries. States may seek EPA approval

to implement and enforce requirements identical to those found

in Section 104(a) (i.e., the federal Universal Waste Rule).

Title II: Mercury Batteries

The purpose of Title II is to phase out the use of batteries that con-
tain mercury. Title II specifically prohibits the sale of any alkaline-
manganese (except for button cells containing up to 25mg mer-
cury) and zinc-carbon batteries that contain mercury that was
intentionally introduced (as distinguished from mercury that may be
incidentally present in other materials used to produce these bat-
teries). Also prohibited is the sale of button cell mercuric-oxide bat-
teries. Other mercuric-oxide batteries are prohibited from being
sold unless the manufacturer (1) identifies a collection site in the
United States where mercuric-oxide batteries can be sent for recy-
cling or proper disposal, (2) informs each of its purchasers of the
collection site, and (3) provides each of its purchasers with a tele-
phone number that the purchaser may call to get information
about sending mercuric-oxide batteries for recycling or proper dis-
posal. Finally, EPA may exempt from the Title II sales prohibitions a

Battery Act

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 8

new product or use for a Title II battery, if there exist reasonable
safeguards against disposal of the battery in an incinerator, com-
posting facility, or landfill (other than a facility regulated under the
hazardous waste requirements of RCRA).

State Authority

As described under Section 7 of the Act, states can implement and
enforce any requirement that is

identical

to (and hence not more or

less stringent than) that in the Battery Act with respect to the label-
ing and easy removability of rechargeable batteries, and the col-
lection, storage, and transportation of covered batteries. States
can, however, adopt more stringent requirements for any

other

Battery Act provision, such as those in Title II. Finally, the Battery
Act does not govern the recycling and disposal of covered batter-
ies. States can, therefore, continue to adopt and enforce standards
for the recycling and disposal of covered batteries that are more
stringent than existing federal standards under RCRA.

Enforcement

The enforcement provisions that are described in Section 5 of the
Battery Act are fairly straightforward.

■

EPA may require compliance and/or assess a civil penalty of up
to $10,000 for each violation of the labeling, easy removability,
and Title II requirements of the Act. Under an exemption to the
Act’s enforcement provisions, EPA cannot take enforcement
action against retailers for selling a battery or product that does
not meet the labeling or easy removability requirements of the
Act. This may encourage retailers’ voluntary participation in bat-
tery recycling by protecting retailers from prosecution for the
sale of batteries that they purchase from a person, such as a
manufacturer, who violates the Act. However, importers are not
exempt from liability, and a retailer can be held liable by EPA if
it has knowledge that the chemical contents of a battery are in
violation of Title II of the Act.

■

Violations of the requirements of Section 104 and the Universal
Waste Rule are enforced separately by EPA under the Solid

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 9

Waste Disposal Act. These requirements involve the collection,
storage, and transportation of used Ni-Cd and certain other
rechargeable batteries and certain mercury-containing batteries.
Violations of these requirements are subject to the stringent
penalties and broad remedies available under RCRA.

Promotion of Recycling of Rechargeable
Batteries

Public education and participation are keys to
the success of any recycling program—and
are particularly important with materials like
batteries that have not been commonly
recycled. A public education program can
heighten awareness of the recycling program, involve more
individuals and businesses, and increase the number of batteries
collected. With this in mind, Section 4 of the Act requires EPA to
consult with rechargeable battery manufacturers, rechargeable
consumer product manufacturers, and retailers to establish a pub-
lic education program on battery recycling and the proper han-
dling and disposal of used Ni-Cd and certain SSLA batteries.

Public education

and participation

are keys

to the success

of any recycling

program—and are

particularly important

with materials like

batteries that

have not been

commonly recycled.

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 10

Why is Proper Disposal or
Recycling Necessary for Ni-Cd
and SSLA Batteries?

he toxic heavy metals, such as cadmium and lead, found in
rechargeable Ni-Cd and SSLA batteries perform critical func-

tions within the battery. Heavy metals are contained within the bat-
tery’s casing and pose no real risks while the battery is in use. But
they can be of concern when discarded with ordinary municipal
solid waste, as most batteries are. Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries
were estimated to represent approximately 75 percent of the cad-
mium found in municipal solid waste in 1995. EPA projected that
lead-acid rechargeable batteries, of which SSLAs are a small per-
centage, would represent approximately 65 percent of the lead
found in municipal solid waste in 1995.

At present, approximately 73 percent of municipal solid waste is
either landfilled or incinerated. Neither of these methods is ideally
suited for batteries that contain heavy metals. In landfills, especially
those without liners and controls, heavy metals have the potential
to leach slowly into soil, ground water, and surface water. When
incinerated, metals such as cadmium and lead can concentrate in
the ash produced by combustion and enter the atmosphere
through incinerator smokestack emissions. When disposed of, the
metals in the incinerator ash can leach into the environment. In the
environment, certain types of heavy metals can also concentrate in
the tissues of organisms and make their way up the food chain.
Several metals, such as cadmium, are known carcinogens. The
possible health effects associated with ingestion or inhalation of
water, food, or air that has been contaminated with high levels of
heavy metals range from headaches and abdominal discomfort to
seizures, cancer, comas, and even death. The severity of the health
effects are usually dependent on the total concentration of the met-
als to which one is exposed over time.

Recycling programs for Ni-Cd and SSLA rechargeable batteries
can address the potential risks posed by landfilling or incinerating

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 11

these batteries by diverting them from the waste stream. In the case
of battery recycling, metals are recovered from the used batteries,
and the remainder of the product is recycled or discarded.

How State and Local
Governments Can Promote
Ni-Cd and SSLA Battery
Recycling

tate and local governments play an important role in devel-
oping and implementing a successful battery recycling pro-

gram. Public education efforts are essential to the success of a bat-
tery collection program. A public education program developed by
a state or local government can heighten a community’s aware-
ness of the need to reduce heavy metals in the waste stream,
involve more residents and businesses in battery collection, and
increase the number of batteries collected. (See “Options” section
for information on industry trade associations which have devel-
oped outreach materials that could be used by state and local
governments.)

To implement an effective local education program, governments can:

■

Identify the major users of Ni-Cd and SSLA batteries in their areas.

■

Create an education committee to work with recycling staff or
volunteers. Committee members can include state and local
recycling coordinators, battery manufacturing industries, battery
retailers, battery recycling associations, and the public. The
committee can devise a comprehensive local education strategy
and be responsible for educating other members
of their respective interest groups. Some mem-
bers, such as businesses and trade associations,
can also contribute money or in-kind ser-
vices and resources to defray the costs and
increase the effectiveness of the program.

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 12

■

Develop a plan to educate businesses and industries on the
importance of recycling their Ni-Cd and SSLA batteries. One
method that has been proven to facilitate information sharing is
to create workshops of industry and govern-
ment officials. During these workshops, govern-
ments can provide industry managers with
information about state and local legislation,
schedules for collecting the used batteries, and
any incentives for participating in the recycling
program, such as providing containers for col-
lecting their used batteries.

■

Work with retailers serving as collection points
to develop and distribute educational materi-
als. Materials can include posters, brochures,
stickers, flyers, and newsletters. In addition,
governments can send press releases promot-
ing the program to local newspapers, radio,
and cable television stations. A variety of other
creative channels, including distributing flyers
through community schools or utility bill inserts,
can also help promote the program.

What Options Exist
for Recycling Ni-Cd
and SSLA Batteries?

ne national Ni-Cd rechargeable battery recycling program
and several successful state government and regional Ni-

Cd rechargeable battery recycling programs are currently being
implemented around the country. A program for the recycling of
commercial SSLA rechargeable batteries is currently being estab-
lished with the support of the Portable Rechargeable Battery
Association (PRBA) and the Battery Council International (BCI).

State and local

governments can

heighten a commu-

nity’s awareness

of the need to

reduce heavy

metals in the waste

stream, involve

more residents and

businesses in

battery collection,

and increase the

number of batteries

collected.

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 13

y recycling rechargeable batteries in the products they
use, businesses and public agencies can take advantage

of a convenient way to help the environment. Retailers, business-
es, and public agencies can institute “take-back” programs
and contribute funds for public education and battery collec-
tion. (See “Options” section for information that industry trade
associations provide to retailers, businesses, and public agencies.)

Retailers of Ni-Cd and SSLA batteries can work with state and local
governments to collect used batteries. Retailers can display posters
or signs informing the community of the need to recycle these
batteries and of the names and addresses of battery collection
sites. Retailers can also provide used-battery collection containers
that will be sent to an appropriate storage or recycling facility.

Businesses and public agencies, such as hospitals, computer
companies, auto manufacturers, and police and fire depart-
ments, that use a large number of Ni-Cd or SSLA batteries can
work on their own or with state and local governments to facili-
tate the collection of their used batteries. These businesses and
agencies can develop their own collection programs by edu-
cating their employees about the importance of recycling these
batteries and by providing containers or schedules for the col-
lection of their used batteries. In addition, businesses and pub-
lic agencies can fund or staff community collection programs
and/or sponsor employee collection events that may last from
one day to a week. All businesses that use cordless products—
such as cellular phones, laptop computers, video recorders,
and power tools—whether large Fortune 500 companies,
small companies, or conditionally exempt small quantity gener-
ators, should be encouraged to participate in the collection
and recycling of rechargeable batteries.

What Role Do Retailers,
Businesses, and Public
Agencies Play?

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 14

National Ni-Cd Rechargeable Battery
Recycling Program

Charging Up to Recycle!

RBRC, a nonprofit organization representing many
rechargeable battery manufacturers, developed
the

Charge Up to Recycle!

program to help keep

Ni-Cd batteries out of the solid waste stream and
prevent toxins from ending up in landfills or municipal incinerators.

The

Charge Up to Recycle!

program offers various recycling plans

for communities, retailers, businesses, and public agencies. For
each group, RBRC pays or shares the cost of consolidating the
batteries, shipping them to the processing facility, and recycling

them. The program sends all Ni-Cd batteries to the

International Metals Reclamation Company

(INMETCO), a recently opened cadmium recovery

facility in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. At the facility,

the nickel and iron are separated from the cadmium

and shipped to specialty steel producers for use in

stainless steel products. The recovered cadmium, at a

99.95 percent purity level, is used to produce new Ni-Cd
rechargeable batteries.

For more information about the

Charge Up to Recycle!

program,

or for the location of the collection site nearest you, visit the web
site at

http://www.rbrc.com

or call RBRC’s toll-free number at

1-800-8-BATTERY.

State Government and Regional Ni-Cd
Rechargeable Battery Recycling Programs

Many state governments and regional organizations have estab-
lished successful Ni-Cd rechargeable battery recycling programs.
Here are descriptions of two such programs:

Massachusetts’ Municipalities Recycle Used Ni-Cds

Almost one-third of municipalities in the state of Massachusetts
currently collect used Ni-Cd batteries. Massachusetts worked with
RBRC to establish collection points in more than 100 of the state’s
351 municipalities. These municipal collection points complement
retail collection locations in Massachusetts that were established
under RBRC’s national program.

Massachusetts’ Department of Environmental Protection distributes
5-gallon plastic buckets to each of its four regional offices. These
offices in turn make them available to municipal recycling coordi-
nators who place them in centrally located, visible sites in the com-
munity. RBRC coordinates outreach efforts to residents to educate
them that Ni-Cd batteries can be recycled and to inform them of
where to take their batteries for recycling.

For more information about Massachusetts’ battery recycling efforts,
contact the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Household Hazardous Waste Hot Line at 1-800-343-3420.

Battery Drop Stop Program

Battery recycling may be just a phone call away! In January 1997,
EPA Region 5 and Ameritech, a major manufacturer of cellular
phones and pagers, teamed up to launch “Battery Drop Stop,” a
cellular battery recycling program intended to keep Ni-Cd batteries
out of our nation’s landfills. Under this program, consumers can
drop off their Ni-Cd cellular batteries at any of Ameritech’s more
than 1,000 retail associates and authorized dealers across the
Midwest for recycling. Ameritech will accept any kind of Ni-Cd cel-
lular batteries, regardless of brand or service provider, for recy-
cling. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation plays an
active role in the program, providing special battery collection
boxes and coordinating the recycling at its facility in Pennsylvania.
Interested consumers can obtain a copy of their free brochure with
more details on the battery recycling program and/or find the
location of the nearest Ameritech “Battery Drop Stop” by calling
1-800-MOBILE (1-800-662-4531).

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 16

Commercial SSLA Recycling

To encourage the recycling of commercial SSLA batteries, the man-
ufacturers of SSLAs and products that contain them, with support
from PRBA and BCI, are establishing a collection
program. Commercial SSLA batteries have four
primary end uses: uninterrupted power sources,
emergency lighting, alarm systems, and hospital
equipment. Manufacturers are working to
establish collection points for commercial SSLA

batteries in five states by the end of 1997. These states

are Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, and New

Jersey. Users of products that contain the batteries

are responsible for transporting them to collection

centers, while manufacturers of the batteries facilitate

their recycling. Commercial SSLAs are recycled with other

lead-acid batteries at secondary smelters.

For more information about the commercial SSLA battery recycling
program, contact PRBA at 770-612-8826.

Almost one-third

of municipalities

in the state

of Massachusetts

currently collect

used Ni-Cd

batteries.

INSIDED.QXD 12/16/97 12:15 PM Page 17

For More Information

■

A copy of the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery
Management Act (P.L. 104-142) can be downloaded from EPA’s
web site at

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/state/

policy/pl104.txt

■

For general questions about battery recycling, contact the RCRA
Hotline at 800-424-9346 or TDD 800-553-7672. In
Washington, DC, the number is 703-412-9810 or TDD 703-
412-3323. The RCRA Hotline is open from Monday through
Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time.

■

A handbook entitled

Used Dry Cell Batteries: Is a Collection

Program Right for Your Community?

is designed for local com-

munities interested in establishing a program to collect used dry
cell batteries (i.e., both single-use and rechargeable). The docu-
ment contains program cost information, public education
strategies, management options, and examples of community
programs around the country. To request a copy, call the RCRA
Hotline and reference document number EPA530-K-92-006.

■

More information on EPA’s Universal Waste Rule can be found on
EPA’s website at

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/id/

univwast.htm

. The rule was published in the May 11, 1995

Federal Register

and is found in the Code of Federal Regulations

at 40 CFR Part 273, as well as at

http://www.epa.gov/docs/

fedrgstr/EPA-WASTE/1995/May/Day-11/pr-223.html

INSIDED.QXD 12/15/97 11:57 AM Page 18

Bleicher, Samuel A. 1996. “The Mercury-Containing and
Rechargeable Battery Management Act of 1996: A New
Direction for Recycling.” Environment Reporter. Vol. 27. The
Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.

Fishbein, Betty. 1997. Extended Product Responsibility: A New
Principle for Product-Oriented Pollution Prevention. “Industry
Program to Collect and Recycle Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd)
Batteries.” pp. 6-1 to 6-32. EPA530-R-97-009.

Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management
Act. Pub. L. No. 104-142. (1996)

Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation. P.O. Box 141870,
Gainesville, Florida 32614-1870. Phone: 352-376-6693.
Fax: 352-376-6658. E-mail: rbrc@rbrc.com. Internet address:

http://www.rbrc.com

U.S. EPA. 1997. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the
United States: 1996 Update. EPA530-R-97-015. Internet address:

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/msw96.htm

U.S. EPA. 1995. Decision-Maker’s Guide to Solid Waste
Management, Second Edition. EPA530-R-95-023. Internet
address:

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/dmg2.htm

U.S. EPA. 1989. Characterization of Products Containing Lead
and Cadmium in Municipal Solid Waste in the United States,
1970 to 2000. EPA530-SW-89-015B.

References

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