Dive Brief:

• Connecticut is poised to become the first state in the country to establish a battery recycling bill that includes single-use alkaline batteries and rechargeable batteries.
• Environmental officials in the state are partnering with battery manufacturers to create a bill that will be introduced in the 2015 legislative session.
• The bill would cover various types of batteries: alkaline, zinc carbon, lithium primary silver oxide, and zinc-air. In addition, computer, cell, rechargeable, and watch batteries would fall under the purview of the bill.

Dive Insight:

Details about how batteries will be processed and recycled under the law are in the works. Options include asking consumers to dispose of batteries in curbside recycling bins or possibly transporting the expired batteries to a designated drop-off site. Automobile batteries are not included as part of the bill, as Connecticut already has a car battery disposal program in place. 

The proposed bill has the support of the battery industry, and is backed by a variety of business and environmental organizations that have agreed to take on responsibility for the collection and recycling of certain battery types. The groups are striving to make battery recycling convenient, safe for the environment, and financially attractive to state and regional economies, as well as government entities.