Federal and State Legal Requirements for Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) and Small Sealed Lead Acid (Pb) Disposal

State requirements

States with Nickel Cadmium and Small Sealed Lead (Ni-Cd/Pb) disposal bans. All end users prohibited from throwing in trash; must send for recycling/proper disposal through manufacturer/distributor or other collection programs. Participation in the national RBRC program is an easy way to comply.

  		• Florida
  		• Iowa
  		• Maine (government/industrial/communications/medical employees or contractors)
  		• Maryland
  		• Minnesota
  		• New Jersey

  • Rhode Island
  		• Vermont

    States with disposal bans covering all types of lead batteries (including but not specifying Pb batteries). All end users prohibited from throwing batteries in trash; must return for recycling through retailers, distributors, or manufacturers or send directly to a secondary lead smelter. As to Pb, participation in the national RBRC program is an easy way to comply.
  • Arizona
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  • New Hampshire
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  • Arkansas
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  • New Mexico
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  • California
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  • North Carolina
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  • Connecticut
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  • North Dakota
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  • Florida
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  • Oregon
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  • Hawaii
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  • Pennsylvania
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  • Indiana
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  • South Carolina
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  • Iowa
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  • South Dakota
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  • Kentucky
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  • Texas
  • Louisiana
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  • Utah
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  • Maine
  • Vermont
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  • Minnesota
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  • Virginia
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  • Mississippi
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  • West Virginia
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  • Missouri
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  • Wisconsin
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  • Nebraska
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  • Wyoming

    • State and municipality/city with disposal ban covering all types of rechargeable batteries (Ni-Cd, Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-ion), Pb).  Retailers that sell rechargeable batteries are required to provide for collection and recycling of these batteries for recycling, reuse, or proper disposal, at no cost to the consumer.  RBRC program is an easy way to comply.
  • California
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  • City of New York

    • Federal Requirements

    Federal law requires, with certain exceptions, used Ni-Cd and Pb batteries to be managed as Universal Waste (40 CFR Part 273).        

    The Universal Waste Rule prohibits handlers (e.g., contractors) from disposing of waste Ni-Cd and Pb batteries and further indicates that these batteries must be sent for recycling. 

    Cell Phone Recycling Requirements

    State with disposal bans covering cell phones.  Retailers that sell cell phones sold shall have in place a system for the acceptance and collection of used cell phones for reuse, recycling, or proper disposal.  RBRC program is an easy way to comply.

  • California
  • Maine
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