Illinois Gov. Pritzker signs Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act; law establishes statewide system for safe collection, recycling of lithium-ion and rechargeable batteries

Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act

Illinois Waste Industry Leaders Commend the Governor for Signing a Bill to Properly Manage Consumer Batteries

Springfield, IL – On August 9, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) signed the Illinois Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act into law. This groundbreaking law represents a major advancement in the proper collection, recycling and disposal of lithium-ion and other portable or rechargeable batteries across the state.

The signing of Senate Bill 3686 will result in the creation of a robust system to safely and sustainably manage small-to-medium-sized portable batteries, including lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries, recovering valuable materials and reducing disposal dangers. It is with this model legislation that Illinois can ensure public awareness on safe battery practices and establish efficient and environmentally responsible battery recycling and waste management programs.

Michael E. Hoffman, president and CEO of the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), praised this model legislation, stating, “The signing of the Illinois Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act is a major step forward to create a framework for proper battery disposal. We commend Gov. J.B. Pritzker for recognizing the importance of educating the public on safe battery practices, which keeps NWRA members and the public out of harm’s way. We also thank Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria) and Rep. Sharon Chung (D-Bloomington) for sponsoring this key legislation and putting Illinois first in strengthening proper battery disposal management. Now it’s time to take this momentum to every state in the country.”

Christina Seibert, executive director of the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC), said the act may motivate other states to take action: “The Illinois Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act has the potential to empower other states in their efforts toward responsible management of consumer batteries. Its creation and signing illustrates the broad support for safe battery collection and recycling and the need for national action in addressing the risks of improper disposal.”

Key leaders in the development of this bill included NWRA, SWANCC, Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, Illinois Manufacturers Association, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, PRBA – The Rechargeable Battery Association and Call2Recycle. These leaders celebrate the implementation of the bill and recognize the growing importance of battery disposal safety in Illinois and across the country. Safe and effective battery recycling and disposal is essential, and the Illinois Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act sets an example for other states to implement similar battery disposal programs that can help secure the safety of consumers nationwide.

Key provisions of the Illinois Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act include:

• Producer Responsibility: Battery manufacturers will be required to participate in a stewardship program, ensuring they pay for the collection and proper management of covered batteries.
• Convenient Collection: The act mandates the creation of easily accessible collection points across the state, making it convenient for Illinois residents to responsibly manage used batteries.
• Public Awareness: To maximize the effectiveness of the program, educational initiatives will be launched to inform the public about the importance of proper battery management and how to get rid of old batteries.
• Annual Reporting: Stewardship organizations must submit annual reports detailing the overall effectiveness of the program, ensuring transparency and accountability.

The Illinois Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act takes effect immediately, with battery collection and management under the stewardship program beginning on January 1, 2026.

To learn more about lithium-ion batteries and how to properly manage and dispose of them, please visit www.wasterecycling.org/lithium-battery or https://illinoispsc.org/batteries/.

ABOUT NWRA
The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) represents the private sector recycling and waste services industry. Association members conduct business in all 50 states and Canada and include companies managing the collection and disposal of solid, industrial, medical and construction and demolition waste; companies managing recycling processing and renewable energy; equipment manufacturers and distributors; and a variety of other service providers. For more information about NWRA, please visit www.wasterecycling.org.