Sen. Tepler bill establishing a battery stewardship program in Maine sent to Governor’s desk

AUGUSTA — On Tuesday, March 31, the Maine Senate voted unanimously to enact a bill introduced by Sen. Denise Tepler, D-Topsham. The bill, LD 474, “An Act to Establish a Stewardship Program for Primary and Rechargeable Batteries,” would establish extended producer responsibility in Maine for producers of certain batteries and products containing those batteries. The bill now goes to the Governor’s desk.

“I’m excited to have my colleagues join me in moving this legislation to the Governor’s desk,” said Sen. Tepler. “I’m very hopeful that she will see this legislation as another step toward Maine’s climate goals. This battery stewardship program is important for protecting Maine’s environment and provides several cost-saving benefits to our waste management facilities. This program will reduce the number of fires at facilities that handle lithium-ion batteries, and the costs accrued in dealing with multiple fires. Additionally, this will shift the burden of cost away from Maine taxpayers and on to the producers of these batteries.”

LD 474 will establish an extended producer responsibility model that requires the producers of certain batteries and the producers of products containing those batteries to submit a plan to collect, safely store and dispose of the batteries to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. 180 days after approval of the plan by the department, producers must participate in the approved program. The bill allows companies to do this individually, as a collective, or through the establishment of a stewardship program to manage the process. The bill aims to reduce total landfill volume, prevent fires that have been caused at waste facilities by improper disposal and decrease costs and confusion for taxpayers.

The Governor has 10 days following enactment to sign the bill, veto it or allow it to go into law without her signature.

Sen. Tepler represents District 24, which includes all of Sagadahoc County, as well as Dresden in Lincoln County.

###