Lane County Waste Management Experts Help Shape Oregon’s New Battery Recycling Law
By Daniel Hiestand
Lane County Waste Reduction Outreach Coordinator
When I sit down with my colleague, Lane County Waste Reduction Program Supervisor Angie Marzano, our conversations often drift toward one big idea: companies shouldn’t get to shrug and walk away once a product is sold. Angie’s convinced—and I think she’s right—that businesses have a responsibility to make sure their products don’t become a problem for the environment or for the people who eventually must figure out how to get rid of them.
That’s really what extended producer responsibility, or EPR, is all about.
And if you’ve lived in Oregon long enough, you’ve definitely seen EPR in action. Our famous 1971 Bottle Bill was the first program of its kind in the country, making distributors responsible for collecting and recycling their bottles. More recently, the Recycling Modernization Act expanded EPR to plastic and paper packaging. We’ve even applied it to mattresses and electronics.
So, when Angie started noticing how many batteries—especially lithium‑ion batteries—were ending up in the waste stream, she saw a familiar pattern.
“Batteries—especially lithium‑ion batteries—are showing up in the waste stream more often and can cause fires in recycling facilities, trucks, and landfills if they are disposed of improperly,” she said.
That concern helped set a whole new effort in motion.
Along with my co-worker, Waste Reduction Specialist Maya Buelow, and colleagues at Metro, Angie helped shape what eventually became Oregon’s newest recycling law: HB 4144. They worked closely with lawmakers, state agencies, and partners across the state to design something practical—a system that would make battery recycling safer and easier for everyone.
The law kicks in starting in 2029. When it does, battery producers will be required to fund and manage programs to collect and recycle batteries statewide. It also ensures Oregonians will have convenient places to drop off batteries and helps protect workers, facilities, and the environment from improper disposal.
“By creating a statewide battery stewardship system, Oregon can recover valuable materials while reducing fire risk and environmental harm,” Angie said.
Maya added just how serious the issue has become: “Perhaps most importantly, the law will prohibit batteries from being discarded in the trash to prevent fires in garbage trucks and at waste facilities, which is a growing problem. Just last year, the county recorded 56 lithium battery fires at Short Mountain Landfill.”
Until the new system is up and running, Angie and Maya encourage folks to use Lane County’s Waste Wise App to find out where to safely recycle batteries and other materials.
As Angie put it, “This legislation is another example of Oregon’s leadership in extended producer responsibility—ensuring that companies help manage products responsibly at the end of their life.”
