The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) is undertaking a new rulemaking activity. 聽If you handle used vehicle batteries in any way, this rulemaking may be of interest to you. 聽If you are a recycler, someone engaged in scrap or auto salvage, or another business that accepts batteries for recycling or transportation other than as an exchange during the retail sales of batteries, this rulemaking will affect you.
Washington鈥檚 Vehicle Battery Recycling rule has been extremely successful. 聽Almost 100 percent of vehicle batteries are collected and recycled in our state. 聽However, the rule was adopted in 1991 (as Chapter 173-331 of the Washington Administrative Code), and after more than 20 years, it is due for an update.
What We Are Doing and Why We Are Doing It
Under the law, you must be authorized to accept vehicle batteries for recycling or transportation, unless it is an exchange during a retail sale. 聽That authorization is obtained by paying a $15 fee to register with the Washington Department of Revenue. 聽Ecology then obtains the information from Revenue. 聽We are considering eliminating the registration fee and providing a no-cost, web-based registration directly with Ecology.
Other changes Ecology is considering include, but are not limited to:
- Clarifying rule language to make it easier to comply and implement.
- Eliminating the requirement for Ecology to maintain a list of persons who will accept broken or leaking vehicle batteries, and replacing it with guidance posted on the agency website.
- Eliminating the language in the rule that requires Ecology to review applications before licenses are issued by the Department of Revenue.
- Revising reporting requirements.
- Replacing inadequate methodology for economic analysis required to be performed by Ecology in the event of a market failure, with a commitment to work with business to evaluate alternatives.
- Other corrections and clarifications, including eliminating out-of-date contact information.
How You Can Stay Informed
Visit . 聽Find the Vehicle Battery Rule in the list on the left side of the page and click on it. 聽That will take you to pages with specific information on this rulemaking. If you want to receive notification on changes to the Vehicle Battery Recycling rule or learn about opportunities for public input, please sign up for the Vehicle Battery Recycling ListServ by going to the website above and selecting the vehicle battery recycling rule from the list on the left side of the page. 聽Joining the ListServ requires only an e-mail address, and the only emails you receive will be updates from Ecology. 聽Future communications on this rulemaking activity will be posted to the web pages or sent through the ListServ.
For more information, e-mail to , or contact Kyle Dorsey at (360) 407-6559.