AB 2153 Summary: The Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Act of 2016

• Requires dealers to accept used lead-acid batteries at point of sale at no charge and to collect refundable deposits from customers who do not return a used battery within 45 days of purchase, effective April 1, 2017.

• Imposes a $1 California battery fee on each replacement lead-acid battery sold (increasing to $2 on April 1, 2022), with dealers retaining 1.5% for collection costs and remitting remainder to State Board of Equalization for the Lead-Acid Battery Cleanup Fund.

• Imposes a $1 manufacturer battery fee on each lead-acid battery sold for retail in California from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2022, credited against manufacturers' liability for cleanup costs at lead-acid battery recycling facilities.

• Creates the Lead-Acid Battery Cleanup Fund to finance investigation, cleanup, remedial action, and monitoring at sites contaminated by lead-acid battery recycling operations.

• Requires manufacturers to place recycling symbols and labels on all replacement lead-acid batteries sold in California as of July 1, 2017, and to notify distributors and dealers of requirements by January 1, 2017.