ARTICLE 10.6. Management of Small Household Batteries [25216. - 25216.3.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 10.6.

in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 25216. Section 25216.

For the purposes of this article, “batteries” means primary or secondary batteries, including nickel-cadmium, alkaline, carbon-zinc, and other batteries generated as non-RCRA waste similar in size to those typically generated as household waste. “Batteries” does not include lead-acid batteries.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 25216.1. Section 25216.1.

(a) Any collection location or intermediate collection location that receives, or any person that transports, spent batteries, as defined in this article, is exempt from the requirements of this chapter concerning the receipt, storage, and transportation of hazardous waste if the batteries are subsequently sent from that collection location to a facility authorized to receive those batteries and all of the following conditions are met: (1) The collection location is either of the following: (A) The collection location does not store more than 600 pounds of batteries at any one time and no batteries are stored for longer than 180 days. (B) The collection location is operated, or is authorized to be operated, by a public agency as part of a curbside collection program, no batteries are stored for longer than 180 days, and the public agency has considered appropriate volume limits and other necessary precautions to protect the public health, safety, and the environment. (2) The batteries are stored and transferred in a manner which minimizes the possibility of fire, explosion, or any release of hazardous substances or hazardous waste constituents. (3) The collection location, transporter, and receiving facility retains a copy of the hazardous waste manifest or bill of lading used during transportation for a period of three years. If a bill of lading is used, the bill of lading shall have, at a minimum, all of the following information: (A) The name, address, and telephone number of the collection location, transporter, and receiving facility. (B) A general description and quantity of batteries. (C) The date of the transfer. (D) The signatures of the transporter and the collection location representative. (4) The batteries are not treated or reclaimed at any location exempted from the requirements of this chapter by this article. (5) Batteries which are received in accordance with subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) which are not subsequently recycled at the facility or transferred to a permitted recycling facility are transferred to a disposal facility authorized to accept such batteries. (b) A household hazardous waste collection facility, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 25218.1, may refuse to accept spent batteries if the volume of spent batteries delivered for receipt exceeds the facility’s storage capabilities. Such a facility may charge a fee to recover the handling, storage, and disposal costs of those spent batteries, which shall not exceed the facility’s handling, storage, and disposal costs.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 25216.2. Section 25216.2.

(a) (1) This article does not apply to batteries that are disposed of on or into the land, water, or air. (2) For purposes of this subdivision, disposal does not include a battery which is delivered to a collection location or an intermediate collection location and subsequently transported to a household hazardous waste collection facility. (b) The department shall implement this article consistent with all applicable state and federal laws.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 25216.3. Section 25216.3.

(a) For purposes of this section, “spent dry cell battery containing zinc electrodes” means an alkaline or zinc-carbon battery, that meets all of the following conditions: (1) It is an enclosed device or sealed container consisting of one or more voltaic or galvanic cells, electrically connected to produce electric energy, of any shape, including, but not limited to, button, coin, cylindrical, or rectangular, and designed for commercial, industrial, medical, institutional, or household use. (2) It contains an electrode comprised of zinc or zinc oxide or a combination thereof, and a liquid starved or gelled electrolyte. (3) It does not contain any constituent, other than zinc or zinc oxide, that would cause it to be classified as a hazardous waste pursuant to this chapter. (4) It is discarded by the user. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a spent dry cell battery containing zinc electrodes is not a hazardous waste, and is not subject to the requirements of this chapter, if all of the following conditions are met: (1) The spent dry cell battery containing zinc electrodes is disposed of in a permitted municipal solid waste landfill, as defined in Section 20164 of Title 27 of the California Code of Regulations, or in a permitted municipal solid waste transformation facility, as defined in Section 40201 of the Public Resources Code, or is accumulated for recycling. (2) The spent dry cell battery containing zinc electrodes is not stored or accumulated for longer than 180 days. In addition, at least 75 percent, by weight or volume, of all spent dry cell batteries containing zinc electrodes stored or accumulated at a site during a calendar year shall be transferred to a different site for disposal or recycling during that calendar year. (3) The spent dry cell battery containing zinc electrodes is stored, accumulated, and transferred in a manner that minimizes the possibility of fire, explosion, or any release of hazardous substances or hazardous waste constituents.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026