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Battery recycling fee increased

Published (4/22/2010)
By Nick Busse
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Consumers who fail to recycle their old vehicle batteries will have to pay a larger fee than what’s currently in law.

Sponsored by Rep. Paul Gardner (DFL-Shoreview) and Sen. Ken Kelash (DFL-Mpls), and signed April 22 by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the law modifies a 20-year-old statute requiring consumers who purchase new, lead acid batteries to either recycle their old batteries or pay a $5 fee.

Currently, when you buy a new battery for your vehicle, you can recycle the old one free-of-charge. If you don’t bring in the old battery, you’re charged a $5 fee.

The fee, which serves as an incentive for people to recycle their old batteries, is ultimately paid by the retailer to the battery manufacturer; however, since manufacturers often charge $10 or more to retailers, the retailers have essentially been getting shorted by $5.

Beginning Aug. 1, 2010, the fee that retailers charge to consumers at the point-of-sale will increase to “at least $10,” so that retailers recover the full cost of the fee they’re charged by the manufacturers. As is the case with current law, consumers who bring in a battery for recycling within 30 days of purchasing a new battery will be able to get their fee refunded.

Gardner has said the law will serve the dual purpose of further encouraging consumers to recycle and also helping retailers’ bottom lines.

HF2402/ SF2152*/CH258

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