MDSB-686In Committee

Environment - Extended Producer Responsibility for Batteries and Battery-Containing Products (Battery Stewardship Act)

Jurisdiction:: Maryland
Type:: EPR
Last action:: Feb 3, 2025

BatteriesElectronics

Next steps for producers

Review this measure’s obligations and confirm whether they reach your products

Applies toA person who manufactures a battery or battery-containing product sold in Maryland under that person's own brand; if the brand owner is not the manufacturer, the brand owner is the producer; if the brand owner is not…

Obligations under this law

·Register with the Department of the Environment (MDE) or join a stewardship organization (PRO) that registers on behalf of members
·Develop and submit a stewardship plan to MDE for approval
·Implement and fund a battery stewardship program meeting collection, recycling, and performance standards

No designated program action is recorded for this measure yet — treat the above as the general obligation and verify against the source text.

Maryland SB-686 directly establishes Extended Producer Responsibility for batteries and battery-containing products through a Battery Stewardship Act, making producers responsible for end-of-life management.

Covered Products

·Primary batteries (single-use, non-rechargeable)
·Secondary batteries (rechargeable)
·Battery-containing products (products that contain or are sold with a battery)
·Includes but not limited to: alkaline, lithium primary, nickel-cadmium, nickel metal hydride, lithium-ion, lead-acid (portable), and other battery chemistries sold in or into Maryland

Producer Obligations

·Register with the Department of the Environment (MDE) or join a stewardship organization (PRO) that registers on behalf of members
·Develop and submit a stewardship plan to MDE for approval
·Implement and fund a battery stewardship program meeting collection, recycling, and performance standards
·Achieve collection and recycling rate targets established by MDE
·Ensure convenient, free, and accessible collection sites for consumers statewide
·Cover all costs of the stewardship program including collection, transportation, and recycling
·Submit annual reports to MDE on program performance, collection rates, and financial information
·Pay applicable fees to MDE or the PRO as required
·Ensure batteries collected are managed by certified recyclers meeting applicable standards
·Prohibit sale of covered batteries or battery-containing products in Maryland unless the producer participates in an approved stewardship program
·Provide public education and outreach regarding battery collection and recycling

Exemptions

·Batteries used in motor vehicles (as defined under applicable law)
·Batteries used in medical devices (may be exempt or subject to separate provisions)
·Batteries used in industrial or commercial equipment where separate take-back arrangements exist (subject to MDE determination)
·Small producers below a de minimis sales threshold may be exempt (threshold to be defined by MDE regulation)
·Retailers are not producers unless they sell under a private label brand

Key Deadlines

—compliance: Producers must participate in an approved stewardship program; specific effective and compliance dates to be established by MDE rulemaking following enactment

—registration: Producers or their PRO must register with MDE prior to selling covered batteries or battery-containing products in Maryland; exact deadline set by MDE regulation

—reporting: Annual reports due to MDE on program performance; specific due dates to be set by MDE regulation

—other: Stewardship plan must be submitted to MDE for approval; timeline to be established by MDE rulemaking

Producer Definition

A person who manufactures a battery or battery-containing product sold in Maryland under that person's own brand; if the brand owner is not the manufacturer, the brand owner is the producer; if the brand owner is not present in the US, the US importer or first domestic seller is the producer; a retailer who sells under a private label is the producer for those products

Fee Structure

Unknown: Producers are responsible for all costs of the stewardship program. Fee structures are to be determined by MDE through rulemaking or established within the stewardship plan/PRO structure. MDE may charge registration and administrative fees. Eco-modulation of fees (adjusting based on recyclability, hazardous content, or other environmental criteria) may be incorporated but specific structure is not detailed in the bill text.

Enforcement

Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE): Producers or retailers selling covered batteries or battery-containing products in Maryland without participating in an approved stewardship program are subject to civil penalties. Specific penalty amounts and enforcement mechanisms to be established by MDE through rulemaking. MDE may prohibit sale of non-compliant products in Maryland.

Preemption Notes

Maryland SB-686 is a state-level EPR law and does not preempt local ordinances unless explicitly stated. No federal EPR law for batteries currently exists that would preempt this bill. The bill may preempt local battery stewardship ordinances within Maryland to create a uniform statewide program, but this is subject to the final enacted language. No significant federal preemption risk identified.

Compliance Dimensions

PRO StructureIndividual

“Requiring certain producers of batteries and battery-containing products to individually or as part of a battery stewardship organization submit a certain battery stewardship plan to the Department of the Environment for review and approval by July 1, 2026, and every 5 years thereafter”

Tracking dates like these across a whole portfolio of jurisdictions is what Upcoming Deadlines does.

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Full bill text

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Click here to create a new list. Close SB0686 Original Chamber 1st Reading placeholder placeholder Referral to Cmte placeholder placeholder 2nd Reading placeholder placeholder 3rd Reading Opposite Chamber 1st Reading placeholder placeholder Referral to Cmte placeholder placeholder 2nd Reading placeholder placeholder 3rd Reading placeholder placeholder Review in Original Chamber Passed Both Chambers Conf. Cmte (if necessary) placeholder placeholder To Governor Title Environment - Extended Producer Responsibility for Batteries and Battery-Containing Products (Battery Stewardship Act) Sponsored by Senator Augustine Status In the Senate - Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. Analysis Fiscal and Policy Note Synopsis Requiring certain producers of batteries and battery-containing products to individually or as part of a battery stewardship organization submit a certain battery stewardship plan to the Department of the Environment for review and approval by July 1, 2026, and every 5 years thereafter, in accordance with certain requirements; requiring a battery stewardship program to be implemented within a certain amount of time after the Department approves a certain battery stewardship plan; etc. Committees Original: Education, Energy, and the Environment Click to view Recorded Media Committee Testimony Witness List Details Bill File Type: Regular Effective Date(s): July 1, 2025, January 1, 2028 Creates a Task Force or Commission History Toggle History Dropdown Legislation History Chamber Senate Calendar Date 1/30/2025 Legislative Date 1/26/2025 Action First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment Proceedings Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - First - Environment - Extended Producer Responsibility for Batteries and Battery-Containing Products (Battery Stewardship Act) Proceedings Chamber Senate Calendar Date 2/03/2025 Legislative Date 2/03/2025 Action Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. Proceedings Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Proceedings Senate 1/30/2025 1/26/2025 First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment Text - First - Environment - Extended Producer Responsibility for Batteries and Battery-Containing Products (Battery Stewardship Act) Senate 2/03/2025 2/03/2025 Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. File Code Toggle Filecode Dropdown Environment Subjects Toggle Subjects Dropdown Annotated Code of Maryland Awareness and Outreach Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc. Committees and Commissions Communications -see also- ElecComm; Intergov; Telecom; etc. Electronic Government Energy Matters -see also- Fuel; NuclearMatt; PwrPlnts; etc. Environment, Department of the Environmental Matters -see also- Conserv; Nat Resrce; Pollut Ethics Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes Forms Goods and Services -see also- Retail Sales; TermnSvc; TrfGds Hazardous and Toxic Substances -see also- Asbestos; Radiatn Industry and Technology Internet -see also- Internet Access Job Training -see also- Continuing Ed; Vocational Rehab Nonprofit Organizations Open Government Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty Prices -see also- Consumer Price Index Privacy Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records Recycling Refuse Disposal -see also- Recycling Registration -see also- Motor Vehicle Registration Reimbursement Rates Reports Rules and Regulations Standards and Best Practices Storage Studies -see also- Commitees & Commissions; Reports Telecommunications and Information Technology Time Transportation -see also- Aircraft; Airports; Boats; etc Statutes Toggle Statutes Dropdown Article - Environment ( 6-1101 through 6-1114, 9-1701, 9-1702, 9-1733, 9-1734, 9-1738 through 9-1746 ) Last Updated: 2/20/2025 2:39 PM Validation Please fix the following: OK Success Okay Helpful Links Executive Branch Judicial Branch Department of Legislative Services Office of Legislative Audits Report Fraud & Abuse in State Government Quick Links Guided Tours Contact Us Visit About the General Assembly Accessibility Privacy Notice Video Tutorials Helpful Tools Download Legislative Data Open Legislative Data Download × You are about to download a "comma-separated values" (CSV) file and/or a JSON file. 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