Wisconsin: Two new drafts introduced for batteries and packaging

Draft battery stewardship program

The bill would add new sections on a battery disposal ban and battery collection and recycling to the statutes, notably by:

• banning the disposal of batteries in the State from 1 January 2028
• requiring producers to join approved stewardship or producer responsibility organisations (PROs)
• prohibiting the sale of batteries and battery containing products from 1 January 2027, unless the producer participates in a stewardship plan and marks batteries with producer identification
• prohibiting the sale of batteries and battery containing products from 1 January 2029, unless the batteries also carry chemistry and disposal ban markings
• allowing multiple PROs to operate through shared or joint plans, and
• tasking PROs to report on out-of-state approaches to managing non-removable batteries

Draft Packaging Producer Responsibility Program Act

The bill would establish a packaging reduction and recycling program, notably by:

• mandating producers to join a department-approved non-profit PRO before supplying designated products, and meet certain reduction and recycling rates
• prohibiting certain toxic substances and materials after two years of program implementation, and
• requiring the department to administer program funding through producers’ fee payments

Stay up-to-speed with developments in Wisconsin with Landbell Group’s Global EPR Information Services.

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