April 2, 2015
The Honorable Richard Gordon
California State Assembly
State Capitol, Room
Sacramento, CA 95814-0037
The Honorable Das Williams
California State Assembly
State Capitol, Room 4005
Sacramento, CA 95814-0037
SUBJECT: AB 1159: SHARED RESPONSBILITY FOR ALKALINE BATTERY RECYCLING AND SAFE
NEEDLE MANAGEMENT - SUPPORT
Dear Assemblymember Williams:
The __________________ is in support of Assembly Bill (AB) 1159, which would create a
sustainable, cost-effective and convenient collection and recycling program for nonrechargeable batteries sold in California to finally achieve the goals of state disposal bans for
household batteries in 2006 and sharps/needles in 2008.
[Talk about your organization and why you support the bill – and any problems you have and
costs associated with alkaline battery and sharps collection and management. If you have any
specific costs or data on recycling/waste workers being stuck with needles and related costs or
personal stories, please share them!
AB 1159 is a pilot-program that seeks to demonstrate the effectiveness and potential
applications of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to the state legislature. EPR is a public
policy option that recognizes the significant public health, environmental, occupational safety
and health, and fiscal impacts resulting from some products at the end of their useful life.
Primary batteries and sharps are both banned from disposal in California, meaning that local
governments are required to divert and properly manage those products if they are found in
the municipal waste stream. Batteries and sharps are exceptionally expensive to manage, and
sharps create a significant occupational safety and health hazard for municipal solid waste
workers.
AB 1159 will require producers of household batteries and sharps to design, implement and
manage a collection system that is safe and convenient for California consumers to
conveniently recycle and dispose. This supports a smaller government, lower tax and garbage
rate, private-sector approach with proper state government oversight. The bill does not
require manufacturers to bear all of the responsibility for the impact of these products – it just
requires a contribution to the efforts already funded by taxpayers and managed by local
governments. It’s recognition that industry has a role in managing the end-of-life
consequences of the products they produce when those products have substantial societal
impacts at the end-of-life and that externalizing all the costs is just not fair nor reasonable.
We support the parties continuing to work together to find a solution that will work for all
stakeholders in California, including a fair share of the responsibility between the public and
private sectors.
___________ is delighted to be in support of this important piece of legislation.
Sincerely,
NAME and Title
Organization
cc:
Tatum Holland, Legislative Assistant, Office of Assembly Member Das Williams
Assembly Member Das Williams fax: 916.319.2137
Assembly Appropriations Committee Fax: 916.319.2181
Martha Guzman-Aceves, Office of Governor Jerry Brown