California laws address battery fires, landfill heat, and nitrous oxide
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Governor Gavin Newsom signed new laws in California to address growing problems with battery fires, overheating landfills, and nitrous oxide sales.
The laws aim to improve waste management and safety for communities and workers. SB 501 expands the Responsible Battery Recycling Act of 2022 to include medium-format batteries, requiring companies that make batteries for items like e-bikes and lawn equipment to manage product stewardship programs.
This change responds to increasing fire risks from damaged or improperly discarded lithium batteries in waste facilities. AB 28 gives CalRecycle the authority to respond to elevated temperatures in landfills, like the ongoing incident at the Chiquita Canyon Landfill, by requiring corrective action plans and allowing fines of up to $100,000. The state will also create a group to coordinate responses to these events and assess community impacts.
Newsom also signed legislation updating California’s bottle bill and restricting sales of nitrous oxide containers. Waste and recycling companies supported the nitrous oxide measure because of safety concerns and logistical burdens it placed on hazardous waste programs. These new laws shift some responsibility for safe disposal to producers and provide agencies with tools to address emerging challenges in the waste system.
