June 9 -- EPA is developing best practices with respect to the collection of batteries to be recycled, as well as establishing a program to promote battery recycling through the development of voluntary labeling guidelines for batteries and communication materials for battery producers and consumers as directed by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
To aid in the implementation of these directives, the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR) within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requests information on the end-of-life management of batteries, including information on their generation, collection, recycling, reuse, as well as the current labeling standards/requirements for batteries regarding their end-of-life. EPA is interested in both single-use batteries, also known as primary batteries, and rechargeable batteries, also known as secondary batteries. This includes lithium based, nickel-metal hydride, and other battery chemistries, as well as all battery types, such as small consumer batteries, large format batteries (including electric vehicles and grid energy storage), and industrial batteries used in manufacturing, commercial businesses, and healthcare operations.
ORCR is also seeking information about how consumers, businesses, entities in the vehicle management chain (dealerships, repair shops, auction houses, dismantlers, entities that repurpose electric vehicle batteries, refurbishers, and scrap yards), and others are educated on how to manage batteries at the end-of-life. Information from a wide range of stakeholders involved in the battery lifecycle from its manufacture to its end-of-life management, including but not limited to industry stakeholders, researchers, academia, state, tribal, and local governments including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, other federal agencies, community groups, non-governmental organizations, the public, and international organizations.
Written comments and information must be received on or before July 11, 2022. EPA will also hold feedback sessions with an opportunity to provide live, verbal feedback. The dates and times for those feedback sessions will be posted on:
https://www.epa.gov/rcra/feedback-sessions-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-solid-waste-and-recycling-programs. To stay connected about these feedback sessions subscribe to:
https://www.epa.gov/recyclingstrategy/forms/stay-connected.
Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is directed to develop several new solid waste recycling programs. This RFI covers the following programs established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law:
The development of best practices that may be implemented by state, tribal, and local governments with respect to the collection of batteries to be recycled that is—technically and economically feasible; environmentally sound and safe for waste management workers; and optimize the value and use of material derived from recycling of batteries; and
The establishment of a program to promote battery recycling through the development of voluntary labeling guidelines for batteries and other forms of communication materials for battery producers and consumers about the reuse and recycling of critical materials from batteries.
The purpose of the program is to improve battery collection and reduce battery waste by—identifying battery collection locations and increasing accessibility to those locations; promoting consumer education about battery collection and recycling; and reducing safety concerns relating to the improper disposal of batteries. EPA is also interested in the creation of labeling guidelines as a helpful tool in providing information to battery manufacturers about the recyclability of their products. EPA is interested in how the voluntary labeling guidelines might apply to small format, large format, and industrial batteries.
This RFI seeks information on both single-use batteries, also known as primary batteries, and rechargeable batteries, also known as secondary batteries; all battery chemistries, including but not limited to: lithium based, nickel-metal hydride, and other battery chemistries; and all battery types, such as small consumer batteries, large format batteries (including electric vehicles and grid energy storage), and industrial batteries used in manufacturing, commercial businesses, and healthcare operations, to inform the scope of the battery collection best practices, voluntary labeling guidelines for batteries, and other forms of communication materials for battery producers and consumers about the reuse and recycling of critical materials from batteries.
This RFI seeks input from all stakeholders involved in the battery lifecycle from its manufacture to its end-of-life management—including but not limited to the public, industry, researchers, academia, state, tribal, and local governments, including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, other federal agencies, community groups, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations. In addition to stakeholders involved with small consumer batteries, EPA also is interested in obtaining input from stakeholders involved with large format batteries (including electric vehicles and grid energy storage), and industrial batteries used in manufacturing, commercial businesses, and healthcare operations.
This stakeholder input will inform the Agency's efforts to develop best practices with respect to the collection of batteries to be recycled, as well as to establish a program to promote battery recycling through the development of voluntary labeling guidelines for batteries and other forms of communication materials for battery producers and consumers about the reuse and recycling of critical materials from batteries.
To build on this information and better inform the development of best practices with respect to the collection of batteries to be recycled and establish a program to promote battery recycling through the development of voluntary labeling guidelines for batteries and communication materials under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA has identified some key information categories on which stakeholder insights would be most helpful:
Scope and prioritization of the battery collection best practices
Understanding the battery collection and recycling system
Information on labeling guidelines for batteries regarding reuse and recycling
Information on battery reuse and recycling communication materials directed towards battery producers and consumers
Battery Collection Best Practices and Voluntary Battery Labeling Guidelines:
https://www.epa.gov/rcra/battery-collection-best-practices-and-voluntary-battery-labeling-guidelines
RFI:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-12459