Battery waste is dangerous, detrimental to the environment, and costly to Minnesotans.
Today, through taxes and recycling fees, Minnesotans are footing the bill for battery recycling. And our current system is flawed. A lack of widely available recycling drop-off locations means most batteries still end up in landfills, where they frequently start fires that pollute the surrounding environment and endanger workers.
But when batteries are recycled responsibly, we can make use of their valuable metals like lithium cobalt and nickel for clean energy technologies.
A bill proposed in the 2026 legislative session would have required battery manufacturers to fully fund the collection of all electronic waste, so it could be recycled responsibly, at no cost to Minnesotans. Better for the environment, better for our clean energy goals, and better for Minnesota taxpayers. Conservation Minnesota worked to educate Minnesotans about this issue and helped people connect with their legislators in support of the bill. Unfortunately, the bill failed to make it to a final vote.
We’re keeping an eye on this issue and will keep advocating for safe, smart, responsible battery recycling.