California Legislative Committee Votes to Move Forward on EV Battery Recycling Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The California State Assembly’s Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials today voted to approve a robust plan to implement a manufacturer-funded collection and recycling system for electric vehicle (EV) batteries at their end of life. If signed into law, Senate bill 615 (SB 615) would lead to responsible recycling of EV batteries retired in the state. In response to the vote, Chelsea Hodgkins, senior EV advocate with Public Citizen’s Climate Program, issued the following statement:
“Today’s Committee vote to advance a California EV battery recycling program marks an important step toward a more sustainable and equitable EV future.
“Senate Bill 615, if passed, will ensure lithium-ion EV batteries in California are reused, repaired, repurposed, or recycled at the end of their useful life. This is a critical step forward to charting a circular EV battery economy in California, setting a leading example for the country that further limits climate-warming emissions, while reducing demand for new mining.
“While there is more work to be done, today’s vote is clear progress worthy of celebration.”
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