NY S02178

Establishes a product stewardship program requiring producers of primary batteries (non-rechargeable batteries under 2 kg, including alkaline, carbon-zinc, lithium metal, and button/coin batteries) to create and implement collection, recycling, and disposal plans

Prohibits the sale of primary batteries in New York after January 1, 2027 unless the producer is registered under an approved stewardship plan and has paid required fees; producers selling less than $500 annually in batteries are exempt

Requires free collection of batteries from consumers with minimum collection facility requirements based on county population, including at least two permanent facilities in counties under 50,000 people and one location in each town, village, or city over 50,000 population

Mandates annual reports starting April 1, 2028 detailing collection weights, rates, facility locations, and program costs, plus independent third-party audits every five years to evaluate effectiveness

Imposes administrative fees of $7,500 annually for individual producers or $15,000 for producers acting cooperatively, with civil penalties up to $1,000 per day for noncompliance