Environment - Extended Producer Responsibility for Batteries and Battery-Containing Products (Battery Stewardship Act)

The Battery Stewardship Act requires manufacturers of batteries and battery-containing products to create and submit a stewardship plan to Maryland's Department of the Environment for approval. Producers cannot sell, distribute, or import these products in Maryland without an approved plan on file. The bill repeals older battery management requirements and establishes a Battery Stewardship Advisory Council to guide implementation, while mandating that stewardship organizations cover certain administrative costs to the Department. These changes shift responsibility for end-of-life battery management from consumers and local governments to producers.