Track 1b: Small Format Batteries – Collection Education and Outreach
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Summary
As required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is developing battery collection best practices and voluntary battery labeling guidelines to improve battery collection and recycling and reduce incidents that threaten waste management worker safety. EPA is developing battery collection best practices for state, Tribal, and local governments to recycle batteries in a manner that is technically and economically feasible, and environmentally sound and safe, and that optimizes value and use of materials, including critical minerals.
On June 20, 2024, EPA hosted a virtual working session for Track 1b: small format battery collection as part of EPA’s collection best practices initiative. The session began with a brief overview of EPA’s goal for the collection best practices. Presentations started with the U.S Department of Energy’s overview of two competitive grant programs for states and local governments. One program provides funding to establish or enhance battery collection, recycling, and reprocessing. The other aims to build or expand programs that support small and medium size manufacturers.
Then, speakers from state and local education and outreach programs shared their experiences on developing and implementing education campaigns on battery collection and recycling. The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County, South Carolina Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling, and Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency presented on their campaign development processes, partner support and funding, program designs, and outreach materials.
Next, C+C, a communications and marketing firm, shared tangible ways to measure the impact and success of a social marketing campaign. Meeting participants asked questions to the presenters through the webinar chat. In between speaker presentations, the meeting participants shared their battery collection ideas, goals, and challenges through a series of interactive polling questions. EPA wrapped up the call by providing dates and goals for upcoming meetings and encouraging participants to submit additional input via batteries@epa.gov.
Speakers
- Ellen Meyer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Pat Tallarico, Facilitator, Eastern Research Group (ERG) Support Team.
- Amanda McAlpin, U.S. Department of Energy.
- Theresa Greinig, Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County.
- Richard Chesley, South Carolina Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling.
- Maria Bianchetti, Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency.
- Amanda Godwin, C+C (ERG Support Team).
- Julie Colehour, C+C (ERG Support Team).