If you鈥檝e got a drawer full of dead batteries and don't know what to do with them, a new recycling law could soon amp up your options.
The , signed by Gov. Ned Lamont in June, will require battery manufacturers to create a state-approved plan for battery disposal and recycling that includes free, drop-off locations across 黑料吃瓜网. It will cover single-use batteries, rechargeables, those found in laptops, e-bikes, scooters and more.
The law goes into effect in October, but gives manufacturers until 2027 to get the collection programs up and running.
The new battery recycling program is 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 latest crack at something called 鈥渆xtended producer responsibility鈥� or EPR. Similar for paint and mattresses. The idea is that manufacturers bear responsibility for a product鈥檚 environmental impact beyond its point of sale.
Right now in 黑料吃瓜网, the burden of recycling batteries is left up to cities and towns. And it can be an expensive proposition, said Jennifer Heaton-Jones, executive director of the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority.
Currently, her group organizes battery drop-offs in western 黑料吃瓜网.
鈥淎 hazardous waste event for us, on average, is about $50,000 for one day,鈥� she said.
There鈥檚 the cost of collecting batteries, shipping them to a recycling facility and even telling people where to go, she said.
鈥淢unicipalities lack the resources, the financial resources, to be able to reach every resident when it comes to recycling in general and then to be able to educate a resident on a very specific item like batteries,鈥� Heaton-Jones said.
The law could also reduce the risk of fire for trash collectors, by increasing the options for proper battery disposal. In May, a sanitation worker in North Haven suffered minor injuries when a lithium ion battery exploded during compacting, causing the .
鈥淲e need an immense amount of water to be able to contain the battery,鈥� said Fire Chief Paul Januszewski.
鈥淚t鈥檒l emit a tremendous amount of smoke, heat and flames and you will not be able to put it out with a common fire extinguisher,鈥� he said.
Battery manufacturers will have the next year to come up with a collection and recycling plan.
Until then, you can find your nearest battery drop off location by going to
