Track 1a: Small format batteries – Virtual Report Out from In-Person Labeling Intensive and Additional Input
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Summary
As required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is developing battery collection best practices and voluntary battery labeling guidelines to improve battery collection and recycling and reduce incidents that threaten waste management worker safety. EPA is developing battery collection best practices for state, Tribal, and local governments to recycle batteries in a manner that is technically and economically feasible, and environmentally sound and safe, and that optimizes value and use of materials, including critical minerals.
On July 16, 2024, EPA hosted a virtual report out webinar to share the information discussed at the June 12-14, 2024 in-person labeling meeting. The virtual report out began with an overview of the EPA’s ongoing battery-related projects, timeline of battery-related conversations, and the in-person labeling meeting details. EPA then shared the vision and scope for the voluntary labeling guidelines as well as how information gathered at both the in-person working session and virtual report out webinar will inform the guidelines. Then, EPA presented feedback gathered from the in-person labeling meeting on the type of information different audiences across the battery life cycle need to know to properly manage end-of-life consumer batteries. Audiences included consumers, collection sites, municipal recycling facilities and sorters, and manufacturers.
After recapping specific needs by audience, EPA highlighted three key labeling issues discussed during the in-person labeling meeting:
- The chasing arrows symbol.
- Color coding consumer batteries.
- Messaging for battery embedded products.
To encourage participants to think about different ways to future-proof the guidelines, EPA presented emerging labeling technologies and different opportunities for labeling innovation. Throughout the webinar, EPA gathered participant feedback through a series of polling questions. The polling questions asked participants to share:
- What success in battery labeling looks like to them.
- What emerging technologies they find in battery labeling today.
- What projects they are currently working on to improve battery labeling.
- Key considerations and information needs by audience.
The virtual report out concluded with a summary of the challenges and opportunities participants identified during the in-person labeling meeting and the areas of battery labeling that will benefit from continued exploration and research.