Battery Developments
Committee Activity Battery Electric Products Committee (BEPC) task groups are actively reviewing opportunities to address battery end-of-life management from remote areas (i.e., Hawaii, Guam) and working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) directly to ensure manufacturer input is involved within their battery extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulatory framework developments. Even though recent administration review of the EPA has caused a delay in their in-person policy framework discussions, they are still developing “Battery Collection Best Practices and Battery Labeling” guidelines which will support end-of-life management of all rechargeable batteries. The industry has launched a battery "take-back" program, with Call2Recycle®, which has become a model representation of how to implement such circular economies without being regulated. The EPA recognizes these efforts and continues to work with OPEI directly to better understand the challenges that lay ahead of any federal battery recycling guidance or even future policy development. State led EPR efforts remain active with some states like Minnesota, under SF 1690, targeting any consumer product with circuit board – including electric outdoor power equipment – with an effective date of January 1, 2027. OPEI will continue to monitor and respond as necessary. Such activity has led to an BEPC Task Group to develop potential manufacturer responsibilities, under EPR structure, that is to be considered when legislation is being developed. The goal is to ensure legislators are properly allocating burdens across the board for all parties involved in such recycling efforts. A common misconception of EPR is that all burdens should fall on the manufacturers when it actually is covered under the responsibilities of the stewardship organization and its collection partners. A Legal Regulatory & Compliance Committee (LRC) focused on packaging EPR has been asked to also review if a national packaging EPR framework should be considered similar to how the EPA is addressing guidelines for batteries. Further investigation will occur along with outreach to other industry associations to determine the possibility of such an initiative. The Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to rescind its exis ng regula ons regarding the energy conserva on standards for consumer external power supplies and rescind the efficiency standards for ba ery chargers. A er reevalua on of the standards, the Secretary has tenta vely determined that the standards legislated by Congress do not require amendments and the current regulatory standards are not economically jus fied. Any comments shall be provided to the DOE by July 15, 2025, in which OPEI is reviewing with members and prior coali on partners around the development of these standards. The next BEPC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, 2025, to be held at the OPEI Office, in Alexandria, VA.
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