The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requires EPA to develop battery recycling best practices and battery labeling guidelines. Congress allocated $10 million and $15 million respectively to the Agency to complete these tasks by September 30, 2026.

When batteries are discarded improperly, such as in household trash or curbside recycling, critical materials inside batteries are lost and cannot be recycled into new batteries. They can also start fires throughout the municipal waste management system, causing air pollution issues in already overburdened communities and threatening worker and first responder safety.

Battery Collection Best Practices are intended to be implemented by state, tribal, and local governments, including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, that are technically and economically feasible to carry out by battery collection and recycling programs. Best practices will also consider environmentally sound actions and safety for waste management workers and optimize the value and use of material derived from the recycling of batteries.

Battery Labeling Guidelines and communication materials for battery producers and consumers (about the reuse and recycling of critical materials from batteries) are intended to promote battery recycling. The purpose of the labeling guidelines and the communication materials is to improve battery collection and reduce battery waste by—identifying battery collection locations and increasing accessibility to those locations; promoting consumer education about battery collection and recycling; and reducing safety concerns relating to the improper disposal of batteries.