The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) is undertaking a new rulemaking activity. If you handle used vehicle batteries in any way, this rulemaking may be of interest to you. If you are a recycler, someone engaged in scrap or auto salvage, or another business that accepts batteries for recycling or transportation other than as an exchange during the retail sales of batteries, this rulemaking will affect you.
Washington’s Vehicle Battery Recycling rule has been extremely successful. Almost 100 percent of vehicle batteries are collected and recycled in our state. However, the rule was adopted in 1991 (as Chapter 173-331 of the Washington Administrative Code), and after more than 20 years, it is due for an update.
What We Are Doing and Why We Are Doing It
Under the law, you must be authorized to accept vehicle batteries for recycling or transportation, unless it is an exchange during a retail sale. That authorization is obtained by paying a $15 fee to register with the Washington Department of Revenue. Ecology then obtains the information from Revenue. We are considering eliminating the registration fee and providing a no-cost, web-based registration directly with Ecology.
Other changes Ecology is considering include, but are not limited to:
- Clarifying rule language to make it easier to comply and implement.
- Eliminating the requirement for Ecology to maintain a list of persons who will accept broken or leaking vehicle batteries, and replacing it with guidance posted on the agency website.
- Eliminating the language in the rule that requires Ecology to review applications before licenses are issued by the Department of Revenue.
- Revising reporting requirements.
- Replacing inadequate methodology for economic analysis required to be performed by Ecology in the event of a market failure, with a commitment to work with business to evaluate alternatives.
- Other corrections and clarifications, including eliminating out-of-date contact information.
How You Can Stay Informed
Visit www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/rules/ruleDev.html. Find the Vehicle Battery Rule in the list on the left side of the page and click on it. That will take you to pages with specific information on this rulemaking. If you want to receive notification on changes to the Vehicle Battery Recycling rule or learn about opportunities for public input, please sign up for the Vehicle Battery Recycling ListServ by going to the website above and selecting the vehicle battery recycling rule from the list on the left side of the page. Joining the ListServ requires only an e-mail address, and the only emails you receive will be updates from Ecology. Future communications on this rulemaking activity will be posted to the web pages or sent through the ListServ.
For more information, e-mail to [email protected], or contact Kyle Dorsey at (360) 407-6559.