Portable and Medium-Format Battery Stewardship Act Summary

• Requires producers of portable and medium-format batteries to participate in an approved battery stewardship program beginning January 1, 2026, with retailers prohibited from selling non-compliant batteries starting July 1, 2026.

• Establishes battery stewardship organizations to manage collection, transportation, and recycling of covered batteries at no cost to consumers, with minimum recycling efficiency rates of 60% for rechargeable batteries and 70% for primary batteries.

• Mandates statewide collection infrastructure including at least one permanent collection site within 15 miles for 95% of state residents for portable batteries and minimum 10 permanent sites for medium-format batteries by December 31, 2028.

• Prohibits disposal of covered batteries in landfills, incinerators, or mixed recyclables starting January 1, 2028, with violations subject to civil penalties of $7,000 per violation or double the applicable fee for non-payment.

• Requires battery stewardship organizations to pay $100,000 annual administrative fees to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and submit detailed annual reports on collection rates, recycling efficiency, and education/outreach activities.