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The law requires battery producers to create a statewide collection system for portable and medium-format batteries. Collection sites will begin accepting portable batteries July 1, 2027 and medium-format batteries Jan. 1, 2029.
Battery producers must join and fund a battery stewardship organization, which will develop and implement an Ecology-approved stewardship plan. A producer that does not participate in a battery stewardship plan may not sell covered batteries in Washington. Ecology adopted regulations to administer the program, effective Jan. 16, 2026.
Battery producers will be responsible for the end-of-life management of their products. The law requires them to join and fully fund a non-profit organization that will serve as the Battery Stewardship Organization (BSO). A producer that does not participate in a battery stewardship plan may not sell covered batteries in Washington.
The BSO must develop and submit a plan to Ecology describing how the program will operate. The plan will include lists of participating producers and brands; transporters, processors, and disposal facilities to be used; how the program will be funded; performance goals; samples of consumer education and outreach materials; and safety procedures. Retailers, local government facilities and solid waste facilities may serve as collection sites in the collection site network which will be designed to be safe, convenient and accessible to everyone.
We will provide administrative oversight and enforcement of the program. Our responsibilities include reviewing and approving stewardship plans and annual reports and maintaining a website that lists participating producers and their brands.
Collection sites will begin accepting portable batteries July 1, 2027, and medium-format batteries Jan. 1, 2029. For battery recycling options available now you can search The Battery Network to find a drop-off location near you, or call 1-800-RECYCLE.
Producers are defined in WAC 173-905-030. Generally, a producer is the brand owner of a covered battery sold to consumers in Washington. In some cases, the producer can be the manufacturer of the battery, brand licensee, brand owner, importer of record, or the distributor or retailer of the battery in Washington.
The producer of a battery-containing product can also be a producer with obligations under the law. A battery-containing product is defined in WAC 173-905-030.
The battery stewardship program will cover most types of batteries that people use daily, such as Ds, Cs, AAs, AAAs, 9-Volt, button batteries etc. Both rechargeable and single-use batteries will be included.
The program begins in 2027 with collection of portable batteries and single use batteries. Portable batteries include:
Rechargeable batteries: Less than 11 pounds and less than 300 watt-hours
Single use batteries: Less than 4.4 pounds
Collection of medium-format batteries is added to the program in 2029. Medium-format batteries include:
Rechargeable batteries: 11–25 pounds or 300–2000 watt-hours
Single use batteries: 4.4–25 pounds
The law also covers battery-containing products, but program collection sites will only accept loose batteries. If a battery cannot be easily removed from a product, consumers will need to find other recycling or disposal options.
There are some exclusions from the program. The program will not accept a battery contained within a medical device where the device is not marketed to consumers, a wet cell battery including vehicle batteries, a lead acid battery weighing greater than 11 pounds, and a non-removable battery in a battery-containing product.
Administrative fees
The law requires Ecology to establish fees to be paid annually by a BSO to the agency to cover its costs to implement, administer and enforce the program. Ecology established plan review and administration fees (Chapter 173-905 WAC, Battery Stewardship Program) which will be updated annually.
2026 plan review fee
Ecology’s plan review fee for 2026 is $63,066.
Each BSO must pay a one-time plan review base fee when it submits its plan to Ecology for review and approval. If the actual cost of review exceeds the plan review base fee, Ecology will charge an additional per-hour fee to cover the additional cost. Ecology’s additional, per-hour fee for 2026 is $85.61, if needed.
2026 administrative fee
Ecology’s administrative fee for 2026 is $357,634.
Each BSO must also pay an annual administrative fee to Ecology. Ecology bases the annual administrative fee on its costs from the previous calendar year. The fee is due each year on June 1. If there are multiple stewardship organizations, the fee will be proportionally allocated based on the market share represented by each stewardship organization.
Battery stewardship program timeline
Prior to implementation, a BSO must submit a stewardship plan for Ecology approval. The plan must identify the collection network and how it will work, as well as other requirements in the regulations. Implementation of the program will begin with collection of covered portable batteries in July 2027 and for medium-format batteries in January 2029. Sale or distribution of portable batteries not covered by a stewardship plan is prohibited beginning July 2027 and for medium-format batteries beginning July 2029. Producers must meet required battery labelling requirements by January 2028 and 2030.
Date
Program implementation timeline
July 2026
Deadline for BSO to submit plan to Ecology for approval.
July 2027
Program begins. Collection sites will begin collecting covered portable batteries. Prohibition on retailers selling covered portable batteries unless producer is participating in an approved plan.
January 2028
Producers must mark their batteries with their brand
June 2028
Deadline for BSO to submit annual report to Ecology
January 2029
Collection sites will begin collecting medium format batteries.
July 2029
Prohibition on retailers selling covered medium-format batteries unless producer is participating in an approved plan.
January 2030
Producers must mark their batteries with the chemistry of the battery and the crossed-out wheelie bin.
