CA SB 1215 - FAQ

Understanding California Senate Bill 1215: Battery-Embedded Product Recycling Fees

Effective January 1, 2026, California’s Senate Bill 1215 (SB 1215) requires companies selling certain products in the state to include information about a new recycling fee on their websites and at the point of sale. This law expands California’s long-standing electronic waste recycling program to include battery-embedded products — items that contain batteries not easily removed by consumers.

What Is SB 1215?

SB 1215 is a California state law that amends the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (EWRA). Prior to this law, EWRA primarily covered specific electronic devices — such as video displays — for funding recycling and proper end-of-life management. SB 1215 extends the scope of the law to include products with embedded batteries that cannot be removed with basic household tools. 

Under SB 1215:

• A covered battery-embedded product is any new or refurbished product sold in California with a battery that isn’t designed to be easily removed by the user.
  
  

• Certain products are specifically excluded from the program, including some medical devices, existing covered electronic devices (like TVs and monitors), specific energy storage systems, and electronic nicotine delivery systems.
  
  

• Retailers must collect a “covered battery-embedded waste recycling fee” from consumers when these products are sold. The fee amount is established by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), based on the cost of administering the recycling program.
  
  

CalRecycle has also adopted emergency regulations to implement SB 1215, clarify definitions, and establish procedures for recycling payment claims and manufacturer notifications. 

What Businesses and Consumers Should Know

• Effective January 1, 2026, the recycling fee applies to covered products sold in California. Retailers must collect the fee and remit it to the state.
  
  

• Manufacturers must notify retailers and CalRecycle about covered products annually.
  
  

• The fee funds California’s Covered Electronic Waste (CEW) Recycling Program and supports safe, environmentally responsible end-of-life management for battery-embedded products.
  
  

Our Website and Documents

Each of our websites now have information regarding CA SB 1215 and can be found in the footer. Click the link to read the document. Each document is different, as different options are offered to different customers (ie. IS website CA SB 1215 will include smart home motors, while PD and Arcadia will not).