Tina Smith: “I introduce lead-acid battery recycling legislation. This legislation, entitled the ``Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Act,''…”

“I introduce lead-acid battery recycling legislation. This legislation, entitled the ``Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Act,'' is intended to strengthen and make uniform the existing lead-acid battery recycling infrastructure by establishing a mandatory recycling program for lead-acid batteries. This legislation would prohibit the incineration and landfill disposal of used lead-acid batteries and require that these batteries be managed through a reverse distribution system. Under this legislation, used lead-acid batteries would have to be delivered in reverse order to battery retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, recycling facilities or automotive dismantlers and ultimately to secondary smelters for recycling. There is little doubt that lead-acid batteries are an extremely useful product. They are used in a variety of applications ranging from lighting and ignition systems for automobiles, power sources for electric vehicles, emergency lighting, and standby telecommunication systems. The lead contained in these batteries is, however, a cause for concern. Furthermore, given the fact that lead-acid batteries account for approximately 80 percent of all the lead consumed in the United States, they merit special attention.”