The
Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is proposing
emergency regulations pursuant to Public Resources Code (PRC) section
42475.2. PRC section 42464(b)(3) requires
CalRecycle to establish a covered battery-embedded waste recycling fee for
covered battery-embedded products (CBEPs) based on the reasonable regulatory
costs to administer covered electronic waste (CEW) recycling on or before
October 1, 2025, and on or before October 1 annually thereafter. The CEW
recycling fee for CBEPs is referred to as the “covered battery-embedded waste
recycling fee.”
At a public workshop held on June 17, 2026, CalRecycle presented its
recommendation to lower the maximum fee cap from $15 while maintaining the fee
at 1.5% of the retail sales price.
The purpose of this informal comment period
is to consult with the public, the regulated community, and other interested
parties to solicit feedback on the proposed covered battery-embedded waste
recycling fee that will take effect January 1, 2027 if approved by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL).
Request for Public
Feedback
CalRecycle is now announcing the specific proposed fee (1.5% with a $1 maximum cap) that will
take effect January 1, 2027 (PRC section 42464(b)(3)) for public review and comment. There will not be an
additional workshop.
How to Participate in the Informal Rulemaking Comment
Period
We
invite all interested parties to submit comments and feedback using the link below
by July 24, 2026.
Important
Interested parties and
members of the public can submit written feedback in one of the following ways:
By
submitting a written comment to CalRecycle in connection with this rulemaking
action, you shall be deemed to have expressly indicated a willingness to
receive a notice by means of an electronic written communication via email
unless you specifically request CalRecycle to deliver its notice(s) via
non-electronic communication.
Please
note that under the California Public Records Act (Government Code section
7920.000 et seq.), your written and oral comments, attachments, and associated
contact information (e.g., your address, phone number, email address, etc.)
become part of the public record and can be released to the public upon
request.
Subscribe
to the Proposed Regulations Listserv to receive emails regarding rulemaking developments.
Subscribe
to the E-Waste Listserv to receive updates related to the CEW Recycling Program.
Please
visit the Covered Battery-Embedded Waste Recycling Fee
Rulemaking webpage for more
information about this rulemaking.
