Amd Art 27 Art Head, Title 18 Title Head, §§27-1801, 27-1803, 27-1807, 27-1809 & 27-1811, En Con L
Relates to rechargeable battery recycling; adds a battery used as the principal electric power source for an electric scooter or bicycle with electric assist to the definition of "rechargeable battery"; provides that a battery manufacturer may not sell, offer for sale, or distribute rechargeable batteries in the state unless the battery manufacturer is implementing or participating under an approved plan; allows a city with a population of one million or more to enforce through its own agencies.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7339C
SPONSOR: Glick TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
rechargeable battery recycling
PURPOSE:
To maximize the removal of unwanted rechargeable batteries from the
solid waste Stream.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends the heading of article 27 of the environ-
mental conservation law.
Section two of the bill amends the title heading of title 18 of article
27 of the environmental conservation law.
Section three of the bill amends the short title of title 18 of article
27 of the environmental conservation law.
Section four of the bill amends subdivision 4 of section 27-1803 of the
environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 562 of the laws of
2010, to include a battery used as the principal electric power source
for an electric scooter or bicycle with electric assist in the defi-
nition of rechargeable battery. This section also is also amended to set
forth the definition of "sell" and "sale".
Section five of the bill amend paragraphs subdivision 1 of section
27-1807 of the environmental conservation to specify retailer responsi-
bilities.
Section six of the bill amends paragraphs a and b of subdivision 2 of
section 27-1807 of the environmental conservation law to specify produc-
er responsibility.
Section seven of the bill amends subdivision 2 of section 27-1807 of the
environmental conservation law to provide for the safe collection and
disposal of damaged or defective batteries collected by retailers and by
government agencies and provides that a battery manufacturer may not
sell, offer for sale, or distribute rechargeable batteries in the state
unless they are implementing or participating under an approved plan.
Section eight of the bill amends section 27-1807 of the environmental
conservation law by adding new subdivision 6 which requires the depart-
ment to promulgate rules and regulations to ensure the safe storage of
rechargeable batteries that minimize the risk of fires.
Section nine of the bill amends section 27-1809 of the environmental
conservation law in relation to a city with a population of one million
or more, that such city shall have concurrent authority to enforce the
provisions of section 27-1805 and subdivision one of section 27-1807 of
this title.
Section ten of the bill amends section 27-1811 of the environmental
conservation law, as added by chapter 562 of the laws of 2010, to clari-
fy that the enforcement provisions in section 4 of the bill are not
preempted in this subdivision.
Section eleven of the bill sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
While the utilization of rechargeable batteries can have positive
impacts on our environment by reducing the amount of unwanted batteries
in our solid waste stream, fully depleted rechargeable batteries that
are treated as traditional waste can deteriorate and leak, ultimately
leading to corrosion that releases toxic chemicals into our environment.
That is why it is in the public interest of New York State to further
maximize the safe collection and disposal of unwanted rechargeable
batteries from the solid waste stream by requiring retailers and
manufacturers of rechargeable batteries to take back and properly
dispose of unwanted rechargeable batteries. The New York State law
regarding the recycling of rechargeable batteries, enacted in 2010,
A06813D/S3593C (Kavanagh/Krueger) accomplishes this purpose by requiring
rechargeable battery retailers and manufacturers to establish a compre-
hensive system for the collection, handling and proper disposal of
rechargeable batteries.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022:S2906 -REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
2021:S2906 -REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
2020:S2331 -REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
2019:S2331 -REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
2018:S7142A- REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
2017:A8577 -stricken
2016:A5851 -referred to environmental conservation
2015:A5851 -referred to environmental conservation
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7339--C
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 17, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK, COLTON, OTIS, DURSO, GANDOLFO, SIMONE,
L. ROSENTHAL, DE LOS SANTOS, REYES, DINOWITZ, SIMON, STERN, THIELE,
JACOBSON, BORES, ROZIC, RAJKUMAR, STECK, McMAHON, ANDERSON, KIM,
GUNTHER, O'DONNELL, SHIMSKY, LUNSFORD, SANTABARBARA, EPSTEIN, BARRETT,
FORREST, TAYLOR, CLARK, BICHOTTE HERMELYN, CARROLL, PAULIN, SEAWRIGHT,
SHRESTHA, LAVINE, BURGOS, SLATER, CUNNINGHAM, SAYEGH, MAGNARELLI,
LEVENBERG, K. BROWN, WOERNER, ARDILA, SILLITTI, RAGA, SOLAGES, VANEL,
GONZALEZ-ROJAS, BENEDETTO, JACKSON, PRETLOW, RIVERA, FAHY, TAPIA,
JONES, STIRPE, LUPARDO, MEEKS, McDONALD, CONRAD, LEE, BRONSON,
WALLACE, BUTTENSCHON, PHEFFER AMATO, DAVILA, BURKE, FALL, AUBRY, HUNT-
ER, WILLIAMS, EACHUS, RAMOS, BENDETT, BURDICK, MAMDANI, ALVAREZ,
DARLING, KELLES, DeSTEFANO, MCGOWAN -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Environmental Conservation -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee -- reported and referred to the Committee on Codes -- reported and
referred to the Committee on Rules -- Rules Committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to the Committee
on Rules -- reported and referred to the Committee on Codes -- recom-
mitted to the Committee on Codes in accordance with Assembly Rule 3,
sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
rechargeable battery recycling
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The article heading of article 27 of the environmental
2 conservation law is amended to read as follows:
3 REDUCTION, COLLECTION, REUSE, RECYCLING,
4 TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF [REFUSE AND OTHER] SOLID WASTE
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02434-20-4
A. 7339--C 2
1 § 2. The title heading of title 18 of article 27 of the environmental
2 conservation law, as added by chapter 562 of the laws of 2010, is
3 amended to read as follows:
4 EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FOR
5 RECHARGEABLE [BATTERY RECYCLING] BATTERIES
6 § 3. Section 27-1801 of the environmental conservation law, as added
7 by chapter 562 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
8 § 27-1801. Short title.
9 This title shall be known as and may be cited as the "[New York State]
10 Extended Producer Responsibility Law for Rechargeable [Battery Law]
11 Batteries".
12 § 4. Subdivision 4 of section 27-1803 of the environmental conserva-
13 tion law, as added by chapter 562 of the laws of 2010, is amended and a
14 new subdivision 7 is added to read as follows:
15 4. "rechargeable battery" means any rechargeable: (i) nickel-cadmium,
16 sealed lead, lithium ion, nickel metal hydride battery[,]; (ii) battery
17 used as the principal electric power source for an electric scooter or
18 bicycle with electric assist; or (iii) any other such dry cell battery
19 capable of being recharged weighing less than [twenty-five] fifty
20 pounds, or battery packs containing such batteries; (iv) but shall not
21 include a battery used as the principal electric power source for a
22 vehicle, such as, but not limited to, an automobile, boat, truck, trac-
23 tor, golf cart or wheelchair; for storage of electricity generated by an
24 alternative power source, such as solar or wind-driven generators; or
25 for memory backup that is an integral component of an electronic device;
26 7. "sell" or "sale" means any transfer for consideration of title or
27 the right to use, from a manufacturer or retailer to a person, includ-
28 ing, but not limited to, transactions conducted through retail sales
29 outlets, catalogs, mail, the telephone, the internet, or any electronic
30 means; "sell" or "sale" shall not include samples, donations, and reuse.
31 § 5. Paragraphs a and d of subdivision 1 of section 27-1807 of the
32 environmental conservation law, as added by chapter 562 of the laws of
33 2010, are amended to read as follows:
34 a. Retailers having a place of business in the state shall accept from
35 consumers at any time during normal business hours rechargeable
36 batteries of a similar shape, size [and shape], and function as the
37 retailer offers for sale. Retailers shall take up to ten such batteries
38 per day from any person regardless of whether such person purchases
39 replacement batteries, and retailers shall also accept as many such
40 batteries as a consumer purchases from the retailer. Retailers shall
41 conspicuously post and maintain, at or near the point of entry to the
42 place of business, a legible sign, not less than eight and one-half
43 inches by eleven inches in size, stating that used rechargeable
44 batteries of the size and shape sold or offered for sale by the retailer
45 may not enter the solid waste stream, and that the retail establishment
46 is a collection site for recycling such batteries. Such sign shall state
47 the following in letters at least one inch in height: "It is illegal to
48 dispose of rechargeable batteries in the state of New York as solid
49 waste. We accept used rechargeable batteries for return to the manufac-
50 turer."
51 d. Retailers may not sell or offer for sale to consumers in the state
52 rechargeable batteries unless the battery manufacturer is operating in
53 accordance with a collection, transportation, and recycling plan
54 approved by the commissioner. The commissioner shall maintain on the
55 department's website a list of manufacturers operating in accordance
A. 7339--C 3
1 with approved plans, and the brands covered by such manufacturer's
2 plans.
3 e. Retailers must be in compliance with the provisions of this subdi-
4 vision no later than one hundred eighty days after the effective date of
5 this title or, with respect to a rechargeable battery defined in para-
6 graph (ii) of subdivision four of section 27-1803 of this title, and
7 with respect to the requirements of paragraph (d) of this subdivision
8 one year after the effective date of the chapter of the laws of two
9 thousand twenty-four which amended this title, or when the commissioner
10 has approved a new or updated plan in compliance with such chapter,
11 whichever is later.
12 § 6. Paragraphs a and b of subdivision 2 of section 27-1807 of the
13 environmental conservation law, as added by chapter 562 of the laws of
14 2010, are amended to read as follows:
15 a. Within ninety days of the effective date of this title or, with
16 respect to rechargeable batteries defined in paragraph (ii) of subdivi-
17 sion four of section 27-1803 of this title, within one hundred eighty
18 days of the effective date of the chapter of the laws of two thousand
19 twenty-four that amended such paragraph, submittance to the commissioner
20 of a new or updated plan that identifies the methods by which battery
21 manufacturers will safely collect, transport, and recycle rechargeable
22 batteries collected by retailers at the expense of the battery manufac-
23 turer and provide retailers with information on the safe handling and
24 storage of rechargeable batteries.
25 b. Submittance to the department of annual reports, on a form
26 prescribed by the department, concerning the amount of rechargeable
27 batteries received within the state and recycled either by number or by
28 weight, including the weight of rechargeable batteries defined in para-
29 graph (ii) of subdivision four of section 27-1803 of this title received
30 within the state as well as within a city with a population of one
31 million or more; the costs of such efforts; and any other relevant
32 information as required by the department.
33 § 7. Subdivision 2 of section 27-1807 of the environmental conserva-
34 tion law is amended by adding a new paragraph d and a new subdivision
35 2-a is added to read as follows:
36 d. Providing for the safe and prompt collection and disposal of
37 batteries from electric scooters or bicycles with electric assist
38 collected by retailers and by government agencies.
39 2-a. A battery manufacturer may not sell, offer for sale, or distrib-
40 ute rechargeable batteries in the state unless the battery manufacturer
41 is implementing or participating under an approved plan in accordance
42 with this section.
43 § 8. Section 27-1807 of the environmental conservation law is amended
44 by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
45 6. The department shall, within one hundred eighty days of the effec-
46 tive date of the chapter of the laws of two thousand twenty-four that
47 added this subdivision, promulgate rules and regulations to ensure the
48 safe storage of rechargeable batteries that minimizes the risk of fires.
49 Such rules and regulations shall also, at a minimum, require retailers
50 to:
51 a. coordinate with a battery manufacturer, or any combination of
52 battery manufacturers working together, to regularly remove batteries
53 from the retail location; and
54 b. inform all employees who handle or have responsibility for managing
55 batteries about proper handling and emergency procedures, including fire
A. 7339--C 4
1 related hazards, appropriate to the type or types of battery handled by
2 the retailer.
3 § 9. Section 27-1809 of the environmental conservation law is amended
4 by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5 5. In a city with a population of one million or more, such city
6 shall, in addition to any authority otherwise conferred in this chapter,
7 have concurrent authority to enforce, by an agency or agencies
8 designated for such purpose by the mayor of such city, the provisions of
9 section 27-1805 and subdivision one of section 27-1807 of this title.
10 Any notice of violation issued by an agency designated by the mayor of
11 such city charging a violation of section 27-1805 and subdivision one of
12 section 27-1807 of this title shall be returnable to the environmental
13 control board of such city. Such environmental control board shall have
14 the power to impose the civil penalties set forth in subdivisions one,
15 two and three of this section. All civil penalties collected for any
16 violation of this title that have been imposed by the environmental
17 control board of such city shall be paid into the general fund of such
18 city.
19 § 10. Section 27-1811 of the environmental conservation law, as added
20 by chapter 562 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
21 § 27-1811. State preemption.
22 Jurisdiction in all matters pertaining to rechargeable battery recycl-
23 ing is, by this title, vested exclusively in the state. Any provision of
24 any local law or ordinance, or any rule or regulation promulgated there-
25 to, governing rechargeable battery recycling shall, upon the effective
26 date of section 27-1805 of this title, be preempted; provided, however,
27 that nothing in this section shall preclude a person from coordinating,
28 for recycling or reuse, the collection of rechargeable batteries and
29 provided, further, however, that nothing in this section shall preclude
30 the enforcement of this title pursuant to subdivision five of section
31 27-1809 of this title.
32 § 11. This act shall take effect immediately.
