Submitted by Admin on Fri, 06/10/2010 – 00:00

A New York State law that mandates all retailers to take back up to ten rechargeable batteries at a time for recycling – even if the depositor does not buy anything – has come into effect.

This action follows the enactment of New York’s first product stewardship law, the Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act, in May, 2010.

Through a combination of these two new laws, the producers of electronics and products containing rechargeable batteries will be required to establish recycling collection programs at no cost to consumers or taxpayers.

According to the New York Product Stewardship Council (NYPSC), product stewardship, also known as ‘extended producer responsibility’, extends the role and responsibility of the manufacturer, producer or brand owner to include the entire life cycle of products, including the ultimate disposition of a product or package at the end of its useful life.

The rechargeable battery law adds rechargeable batteries from laptops, cell phones, cameras and other electronics to a growing list of products residents of New York State can return to retailers for recycling or proper disposal at the end of their useful life. [more WMW]