Bill Text - AB-2284 Recycling: household batteries pilot projects.
An act to add Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 42445) to Chapter 8 of Part 3 of Division 30 of the Public Resources Code, relating to recycling, and making an appropriation therefor.
AB 2284, as amended, Williams. Recycling: household batteries. batteries pilot projects.
(1) The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, administered by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, requires retailers of rechargeable batteries to have in place a system for the acceptance and collection of rechargeable batteries authorizes the department to conduct a study on the disposal and recyclability of household batteries.
This bill would require the department to develop and fund up to 3 local battery recycling pilot projects, which would be required to provide data to the department regarding the implementation and outcomes of the pilot projects. The department would be required, on or before 6 months after the pilot projects are complete, to review and compile the information collected from the pilot projects, make the information available to local agencies, and develop informational guidelines to assist local governments.
(2) Existing law requires an operator of a solid waste disposal facility to pay a quarterly fee to the State Board of Equalization based on the amount of solid waste disposed of at each disposal site. The fees and all money received by the department, unless otherwise specified, are required to be deposited in the Integrated Waste Management Account in the Integrated Waste Management Fund, and the department is authorized to expend the money in the account, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to administer and implement the act.
This bill would appropriate $1,500,000 from certain fees deposited in the account to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to develop and fund battery recycling pilot projects pursuant to the bill.
This bill would enact the Primary Battery Stewardship Act and would define terms for purposes of that act. The act would require, by January 1, 2016, a producer of a primary battery or a primary battery-containing product to submit to the department a primary battery stewardship plan with regard to the primary batteries, or primary battery-containing products, that are sold, offered for sale, or distributed in the state by that producer. The bill would authorize a producer to elect to appoint a primary battery stewardship organization to submit a plan for those batteries or products. The bill would specify procedures for the development of the plan and the elements required to be included in the plan, including providing for a program that would achieve a specified collection rate. The bill would require the department to review the plan and would deem the plan to be approved, unless the department makes a specified notification.
The bill would require a producer or the primary battery stewardship organization to implement the approved plan, including achieving the specified collection rate. The bill would prohibit a producer, retailer, or wholesaler, on and after July 1, 2016, from selling a primary battery or a primary battery-containing product, unless the battery or product is an approved product, as specified. The bill would require each producer or organization to prepare and submit to the department an annual report describing the activities carried out pursuant to the plan and would require the department to review the report. The department would be authorized to require a producer or organization to amend and resubmit a plan if the department notifies a producer or organization that the report does not meet certain requirements.
The bill would authorize the department to require a producer or organization submitting a plan to pay the department an administrative filing fee in an amount sufficient to cover the cost of the department's plan review, but not more than $5,000. The bill would create the Primary Battery Stewardship Account in the Integrated Waste Management Fund and would require the fees be deposited into that account, for appropriation by the Legislature to the department, to cover the department's cost of plan review.
The bill would provide for the imposition of administrative civil penalties upon a producer that is in violation of the act or upon a wholesaler or retailer selling a primary battery or battery-containing products in violation of the act. The bill would create the Primary Battery Stewardship Penalty Subaccount in the Integrated Waste Management Fund and would require the penalties be deposited into the subaccount.
The bill would also allow a producer or organization that is implementing a plan and incurring specified costs to bring a civil action to recover costs, damages, and fees from another producer for failure to comply with the act's provisions.
The bill would declare that the act fully occupies and preempts the entire field of the stewardship of primary batteries and primary battery-containing products and would prohibit a city, county, or district, including a chartered city or county, from adopting or enforcing an ordinance that regulates the disposal, collection, and recycling of primary batteries or requires reporting by producers or primary battery stewardship programs.
(a) In early 2006, most household batteries were classified by the state as universal waste and are now prohibited from being disposed of in solid waste landfills. Under state law, "household batteries" are defined as including batteries made of mercury, alkaline, carbon-zinc, and nickel-cadmium, and other batteries typically generated as household waste, including, but not limited to, batteries used in hearing aids, cameras, watches, computers, calculators, flashlights, lanterns, standby and emergency lighting, portable radios, television sets, meters, toys, and clocks. Household batteries do not include lead-acid batteries, batteries that are sold in a "covered electronic device," as defined in Section 42463, and batteries that are not easily removable or are not intended or designed to be removed from the products, other than by the manufacturer.
(b) Approximately 80 percent of batteries sold in this state are primary batteries, including household batteries such as alkaline batteries, and these primary batteries are not covered under existing retail take-back requirements.
(c) In spite of laws prohibiting landfill disposal of household batteries, much of this waste sill ends up in landfills, where it poses substantial environmental risks.
For purposes of this article "battery" has the same meaning as "household battery," as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 42450.
The department shall develop and fund up to three local battery recycling pilot projects. Each pilot project shall provide data to the department regarding the implementation and outcomes of the pilot project, with consideration of how the projects impact the diversion of batteries from the wastes that end up in landfills.
On or before six months after the department determines the local battery recycling pilot projects are complete, the department shall review and compile the information collected from the pilot projects and shall make the information available to local governments and local enforcement agencies for assistance in planning future diversion activities.
The department shall use the results of the pilot projects to develop informational guidelines to assist local governments that elect to include battery recycling as part of their solid waste diversion programs.
The sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) is hereby appropriated from the fees collected pursuant to Section 48000 that are in the Integrated Waste Management Account to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to develop and fund battery recycling pilot projects pursuant to Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 42445) of Chapter 8 of Part 3 of Division 30 of the Public Resources Code.
(a)In early 2006, most household batteries were classified by the state as universal waste and are now prohibited from being disposed of in solid waste landfills. Under state law, "household batteries" are defined as including batteries made of mercury, alkaline, carbon-zinc, and nickel-cadmium, and other batteries typically generated as household waste, including, but not limited to, batteries used in hearing aids, cameras, watches, computers, calculators, flashlights, lanterns, standby and emergency lighting, portable radios, television sets, meters, toys, and clocks. Household batteries do not include lead-acid batteries, batteries that are sold in a "covered electronic device," as defined in Section 42463 of the Public Resources Code, and batteries that are not easily removable or are not intended or designed to be removed from the products, other than by the manufacturer.
(b)Approximately 80 percent of batteries sold in this state are primary batteries, including such household batteries as alkaline batteries, and these primary batteries are not covered under existing retail take-back requirements.
(c)The requirements of the Primary Battery Stewardship Act, as added by Section 2 of this act, apply to each individual producer of primary batteries or primary battery-containing products, with respect to the batteries or products that are sold, distributed, or offered in the state by that producer. The act also provides an option for a producer to implement this act in conjunction with other producers in this state.
This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the Primary Battery Stewardship Act.
(a)"Actual direct costs" means the costs to collect, transport, and recycle a discarded primary battery, including any other actual environmental management costs relating to those actions.
(1)The producer of that primary battery or primary battery-containing product has submitted a plan to the department or the producer has designated an organization that has submitted a plan to the department.
(2)The plan specified in paragraph (1) is approved in accordance with Section 42445.6.
(3)The program implementing the approved plan collects the products subject to the plan in accordance with the collection rate specified in the plan.
(c)"Bona fide rechargeable battery stewardship organization" means a person operating a system that provides for the acceptance and collection of used rechargeable batteries pursuant to the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act of 2006 (Chapter 8.4 (commencing with Section 42451)).
(1)Identifies a primary battery and attributes the primary battery to the owner or licensee of the name, symbol, word, or traceable mark as the producer.
(2)Identifies a primary battery-containing product and attributes the primary battery to the owner or licensee of the primary battery-containing product as the producer.
(e)"Collection rate" means the percentage of primary batteries, including those taken from primary battery-containing products, by weight, that are collected during a calendar year by a producer, or by the producers participating in an organization, as compared to the average annual weight of all primary batteries that were estimated to have been sold in the state during the previous three calendar years by that producer or those producers. Estimates of primary batteries sold in the state may be based on a reasonable pro rata calculation based on national sales.
(f)"Discarded primary battery" means a primary battery that is discarded, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 25124 of the Health and Safety Code.
(g)"Primary battery" means a nonrechargeable battery that weighs 2 kilograms or less, including, but not limited to, alkaline, carbon-zinc, and lithium metal, that is typically generated as waste, as defined in Section 25124 of the Health and Safety Code.
(h)(1)"Primary battery-containing product" means a product that contains, or is packed with, a primary battery, including, but not limited to, a camera, watch, calculator, flashlight, lantern, portable radio, toy, or clock.
(A)A covered electronic device, as defined in Section 42463.
(B)A product from which a primary battery is not easily removed or is not intended or designed to be removed, other than by the manufacturer.
(C)A Class III medical device, as specified in Section 360c of Title 21 of the United States Code.
(i)"Primary battery stewardship organization" or "organization" means an organization appointed by one or more producers to design, submit, implement, and administer a primary battery stewardship plan pursuant to this article.
(j)"Primary battery stewardship plan" or "plan" means a plan submitted to the department pursuant to Sections 42445.2 and 42445.3 by an individual producer or a primary battery stewardship organization.
(A)The person who manufactures the primary battery or the primary battery-containing product, and who sells or offers for sale that primary battery or that primary battery-containing product, in the state, under that person's own name or brand.
(B)If there is no person to whom subparagraph (A) applies, the owner or licensee of a trademark or brand under which the primary battery or primary battery-containing product is sold or distributed in the state, whether or not the trademark is registered.
(C)If there is no person to whom subparagraph (A) or (B) applies, the person who imports the primary battery or primary battery-containing product into the state for sale or distribution.
(A)A person who manufactures, sells, offers for sale, or imports a primary battery-containing product in the state who complies with Section 42445.5.
(B)A person who sells, offers for sale, distributes, or imports a primary battery or primary battery-containing product, if the total retail value of the sale, distribution, or importation in this state is less than five hundred dollars ($500) annually.
(l)"Program" means the system for the collection, transportation, recycling, and disposal of primary batteries that is implemented pursuant to an approved primary battery stewardship plan.
(m)"Recycling" has the same meaning as defined in Section 40180.
(n)"Retailer" means a person that offers primary batteries or primary battery-containing products in a retail sale, as defined in Section 6007 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, through any means, including remote offerings such as sales outlets, catalogs, or an Internet Web site.
(o)"Wholesaler" means a person that offers primary batteries or primary battery-containing products for sale in this state in a sale that is not a retail sale, as defined in Section 6007 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and for which the primary batteries or primary battery-containing products are intended to be resold in a retail sale.
(a)On or before January 1, 2016, each producer shall submit a primary battery stewardship plan that is in compliance with Section 42445.3 to the department. A producer may elect, in cooperation with one or more other producers, to appoint a primary battery stewardship organization to implement this article on the producer's behalf, and the organization shall submit a primary battery stewardship plan to the department on or before January 1, 2016.
(2)If the primary battery stewardship organization is unable to recruit members from the organizations identified in paragraph (1) to participate in the advisory committee, the organization shall provide an explanation to the department in the plan or in the report required by Section 42445.10.
(c)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (4), a producer or primary battery stewardship organization shall consult with stakeholders during the development of the primary battery stewardship plan and shall solicit stakeholder comments.
(2)The producer or organization shall make all stakeholder meetings available using telecommunication.
(3)This article does not require a producer or primary battery stewardship organization to share confidential business information under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (Title 5 (commencing with Section 3426) of Part 1 of Division 4 of the Civil Code).
(4)If a producer or organization determines that stakeholder involvement is not feasible, the producer or organization shall provide an explanation to the department in the plan or in the report required by Section 42445.10.
(a)Contact information for all participating producers.
(b)The brands of primary batteries covered by the plan and the collection rate of the primary batteries collected by the producer or the producers participating in the organization during the previous calendar year.
(1)The plan shall provide for a program that will achieve a 10-percent collection rate two years after the date the program is implemented and a 20-percent collection rate five years after the program is implemented.
(2)The collection rate may be revised as provided in Section 42445.4.
(d)The number and type of convenient collection points that shall be provided by the program free of charge for consumers in all counties of the state where each producer subject to the plan sells, offers for sale, or distributes primary batteries or primary battery-containing products. The plan shall allow a collection point to accept not more than 100 primary batteries per visit by a consumer.
(e)A description of the methods that will be used to responsibly manage discarded primary batteries to ensure that the components of the discarded primary batteries, to the extent economically and technically feasible, are recycled or otherwise managed responsibly.
(f)The roles and responsibilities of key participants in the primary battery distribution chain.
(g)The outreach procedures that will be used to provide notice of the program to businesses, local agencies, retailers, wholesalers, and haulers.
(h)The manner in which existing primary battery collection points and other programs can be identified and leveraged to achieve the required collection rates.
(2)The estimated total weight of primary batteries, including the estimated total weight of primary batteries that are contained in primary battery-containing products, that will be sold, distributed, or offered in the state by the producer or the producers participating in the plan, during each calendar year.
(3)The cost of collecting, transporting, recycling and responsibly managing the expected total weight of discarded primary batteries collected during each calendar year.
(4)The administrative costs to the department of reviewing the plan pursuant to this article.
(5)The cost of all other stewardship program elements, including, but not limited to, stakeholder participation and public outreach.
(j)Planned educational activities that will further the goal of achieving the plan's required collection rate.
(1)(A)Reasonable reimbursement for the mutually agreed-upon, actual direct costs per unit of weight incurred by the local agency in collecting primary batteries.
(B)The producer or organization may request an independent audit of submitted reimbursement costs prior to making a payment pursuant to subparagraph (A). If the independent audit confirms the reasonableness of the reimbursement request, the audit costs shall be paid by the producer or primary battery stewardship organization.
(2)The location and contact information for the convenient collection points for discarded primary batteries that are located within the local agency's jurisdiction and that are consistent with the plan.
(3)Products for setting up a collection point within the local agency's jurisdiction and providing for the pickup of discarded primary batteries collected, including, but not limited to, arranging for the management of those discarded primary batteries.
A producer or a primary battery stewardship organization may petition the department to adjust the collection rate specified in the plan. The department may grant an adjustment to the collection rate if the department determines that technological, ecological, cultural, economic, or other impediments or circumstances that are beyond the control of the producer or primary battery stewardship organization limit the ability of the producer or organization to achieve the specified collection rate.
(1)Affirms to the department that the person only uses primary batteries supplied by a producer participating in an approved battery stewardship program.
(2)Reports to the producer specified in paragraph (1) or to the organization that producer elects to join, the estimated use of the primary batteries in the primary battery-containing products to be sold in the state by that person, which estimate may be based on a reasonable pro rata calculation of national sales of the primary battery-containing products.
(b)A producer or a primary battery stewardship organization that operates a program that covers the primary battery contained in the primary battery-containing product of a person who, pursuant to subdivision (a), is not a producer shall list the person as a participant in its program, subject to any limitations or exceptions as may be indicated by the information submitted by the exempted person producing the primary battery-containing product.
(a)Upon receipt of a plan pursuant to Section 42445.2, the department shall review the plan and determine whether the plan provides for the establishment of a primary battery stewardship program that includes all of the elements required by Section 42445.3. As part of the plan review, the department shall review the plan's financing mechanism and determine whether the plan considers the factors specified in subdivision (i) of Section 42445.3. In conducting a review pursuant to this subdivision, the department may consult with producers, primary battery stewardship organizations, retailers, and recyclers.
(b)A plan shall be deemed approved by the department 30 days after the plan is received, unless the department, in writing, notifies the producer or the organization that submitted the plan that the plan is deficient and identifies specific elements of Section 42445.3 that were not satisfactorily addressed.
(c)A producer or a primary battery stewardship organization is not required to provide any services to a person exempted from the definition of a producer pursuant to Section 42445.5.
(d)The department shall make all approved primary battery stewardship plans available to the public on the department's Internet Web site, but shall not publish information protected under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (Title 5 (commencing with Section 3426) of Part 1 of Division 4 of the Civil Code). The total weight of batteries collected by a program implementing an approved plan is not confidential business information under that act.
(1)No later than six months after the date of the approval of the plan, implement the plan, including, but not limited to, achieving the collection rates specified in the plan.
(2)Prepare and submit to the department the report required by Section 42445.10.
(3)If a producer or primary battery stewardship organization elects to implement the plan in conjunction with cities, counties, districts, and regional agencies pursuant to subdivision (k) of Section 42445.3, take the actions specified in that subdivision.
(b)A local agency that elects to participate in a program pursuant to subdivision (k) of Section 42445.3 shall separate from other materials the primary batteries for collection by the producer or primary battery stewardship organization.
(a)Within 30 days after the approval of a primary battery stewardship plan, and on or before March 1 annually thereafter, the department shall post on its Internet Web site a list of the brands of primary batteries or primary battery-containing products that are approved products.
(b)A primary battery stewardship program is in compliance with this article if it achieves the collection rate specified in the plan, as provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 42445.3.
(a)On and after July 1, 2016, a producer, retailer, or a wholesaler shall not offer a primary battery or primary battery-containing product for sale in this state, or offer a primary battery or primary battery-containing product for promotional purposes in this state, unless the primary battery or primary battery-containing product is an approved product.
(b)On or before October 1, 2016, a retailer may sell the remaining stock of those primary batteries or primary battery-containing products that are not approved products.
(c)The department shall not take an enforcement action pursuant to this article on or before October 1, 2016, against a retailer with regard to primary batteries or primary battery-containing products that are not approved products.
(d)A producer who seeks to sell or offer for sale or promotional purposes a primary battery or primary battery-containing product that was not sold or offered for sale in the state before July 1, 2016, shall notify the department prior to selling or offering to sell that primary battery or primary battery-containing product in the state. The department shall list that producer as a new producer on the department's Internet Web site. On or before 90 days after making that notification, the producer shall submit a primary battery stewardship plan to the department or join an existing primary battery stewardship organization that has an approved plan. If the producer does not meet either of those requirements, the producer shall not sell the primary battery or primary battery-containing product after that 90-day period and a retailer may sell the primary battery or primary battery-containing product only for 120 days following the termination of that 90-day period.
(e)This section does not require the department to conduct or commission a compliance survey or prohibit a primary battery stewardship organization from conducting or commissioning a compliance survey.
(1)The weight of primary batteries collected by the program in the prior year and the collection rate achieved in the prior year.
(2)A report of the estimated total sales data by weight for primary batteries sold in the state, or the weight of primary batteries contained in primary battery-containing products sold in the state, for the previous three calendar years.
(A)If the plan is operated by a producer that is a single retailer, including a retailer with more than one physical location, the report is not required to provide this information.
(B)If the producer or organization operates a program in another state, in addition to this state, the producer or organization may submit a financial statement that includes all of those states, including this state.
(4)Locations and contact information for all collection points set up by the producers covered by the plan.
(5)Examples and a description of educational materials used to increase collection.
(6)The manner in which the collected primary batteries were managed.
(7)An explanation of why collection targets were not met, if applicable.
(8)Any material change to the primary battery stewardship plan.
(b)The department shall review each report to confirm that all report elements specified in subdivision (a) have been addressed. A report submitted on behalf of a regional or national primary battery stewardship organization may include reasonable pro rata estimates of the elements specified in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a). The report shall be deemed approved unless the department, in writing, notifies the producer or organization within 30 days of receipt that the report is deficient, and identifies specific elements of subdivision (a) that were not satisfactorily addressed.
(c)This section does not require or authorize the department to publicly disclose the confidential business information of a producer or primary battery stewardship organization, if the information is protected under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (Title 5 (commencing with Section 3426) of Part 1 of Division 4 of the Civil Code). The total weight of batteries collected by an approved plan is not confidential business information under that act.
(d)The department shall make all approved reports available to the public on the department's Internet Web site, except as provided in subdivision (c).
(e)On and after three years after the initial implementation date of a plan, if the collection rate for the primary batteries subject to the plan meets the collection rate specified in the plan, the producer or organization shall thereafter submit the report required by this section every two years.
(a)If the department notifies a producer or organization pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 42445.10 that a report does not meet the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 42445.10, or the report confirms that the collection rate or the establishment of the collection points specified in the plan were not met, the department shall notify the producer or organization in writing within 30 days after receiving the report. The notification shall require the continued implementation of the existing approved plan and shall require the producer or organization to amend and resubmit the plan. The producer or organization shall amend and resubmit the plan to the department no later than 45 days after this notification, or no later than a later date that may be agreed to by the department.
(b)If the producer or primary battery stewardship organization does not amend and resubmit the plan pursuant to subdivision (a), or if the department does not approve the amended plan, the department shall, in consultation with the producer or primary battery stewardship organization, determine which actions should be taken to obtain approval by the department.
(c)The department shall not disapprove an amended and resubmitted plan without providing the producer or organization with notice and an opportunity to request a hearing. A producer or primary battery stewardship organization whose amended and resubmitted plan is disapproved may file an action for judicial appeal of the disapproval. A producer participating in a plan, and any wholesaler, distributor, or retailer, may continue to sell the producer's primary batteries or products in the state during the pendency of any appeal.
(a)A producer or organization submitting a plan pursuant to this article shall also pay an administrative filing fee in an amount, established by the department, sufficient to cover the reasonable cost of the department's plan review, but not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(b)The Primary Battery Stewardship Account and the Primary Battery Stewardship Penalty Subaccount are hereby established in the Integrated Waste Management Fund.
(c)The administrative filing fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Primary Battery Stewardship Account and shall be expended by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to cover the department's plan review costs.
(d)All penalties collected pursuant to this article shall be deposited in the Primary Battery Stewardship Penalty Subaccount and may be expended by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to cover the department's costs to implement and enforce this article.
(a)The department may impose administrative civil penalties not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) per day upon a producer that is not in compliance with this article, or upon a wholesaler or retailer that violates Section 42445.9. An administrative civil penalty may be imposed only by the department and shall not be imposed by any other state or local agency.
(b)A producer, wholesaler, or retailer that removes from sale any primary battery or primary battery-containing product within 90 days of discovery that it is not in compliance with this article is not in violation of Section 42455.9.
(c)A producer, wholesaler, or retailer that purchases a primary battery or primary battery-containing product which is verified to be an approved product at the time of purchase is not in violation of Section 42455.9 if, at the time the producer, wholesaler, or retailer sells that primary battery or primary battery-containing product, it is no longer an approved product.
(d)Before imposing a penalty pursuant to this section, the department shall issue a compliance order to the producer, wholesaler, or retailer selling the primary battery or primary battery-containing product that allows 30 days from the date of the compliance order to cease sales of the primary battery or primary battery-containing product.
(a)A producer or primary battery stewardship organization that implements a plan in compliance with this article and incurs in excess of three thousand dollars ($3,000) in actual direct costs for collecting, handling, recycling, or properly disposing of primary batteries sold or offered for sale in the state by a producer that does not operate an approved battery stewardship program or does not participate in an approved battery stewardship organization, may bring a civil action to recover costs, damages, and fees, as specified in subdivision (c), from the producer for failure to comply with this article, if that producer can be identified from a brand or marking on a discarded primary battery or from other information.
(b)(1)An action under subdivision (a) may be brought against one or more producers who are not in compliance with this article.
(2)An action under subdivision (a) shall not commence earlier than 60 days after a written notice of the organization's or producer's intention to file an action has been provided to the department and to the producer who is alleged to be noncompliant.
(3)An action under subdivision (a) shall not commence if the department has commenced an enforcement action against the producer who is alleged to be noncompliant and is diligently pursuing that action.
(1)The costs the plaintiff incurred in collecting, handling, recycling, or properly disposing of primary batteries reasonably identified as having originated from the noncompliant producer.
(2)An amount of damages equal to no more than three times those costs specified in paragraph (1).
(3)The plaintiff's attorney's fees and costs of bringing the action.
This article does not limit, supersede, duplicate, or otherwise conflict with the authority of the Department of Toxic Substances Control under Section 25257.1 of the Health and Safety Code to fully implement Article 14 (commencing with Section 25251) of Chapter 6.5 of Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code, including the authority of the department to include primary batteries in its primary battery registry.
Due to the need to provide a consistent statewide program for the regulation of primary batteries and to protect the public and the environment, this article fully occupies and preempts the entire field of the stewardship of primary batteries and primary battery-containing products. A city, county, or district, including a chartered city or county, shall not adopt or enforce an ordinance that regulates the disposal, collection, and recycling of primary batteries or requires reporting by producers or primary battery stewardship programs.
(a)It is the intent of the Legislature that a producer or a primary battery stewardship organization preparing, submitting, and implementing a primary battery stewardship plan pursuant to this article, and wholesalers or retailers who engage in conduct authorized by this article, are granted immunity, individually and jointly, from state antitrust laws for the limited purpose of establishing and implementing a program and complying with the requirements of this article. It is further the intent of the Legislature that the activities of a producer, organization, and the wholesalers or retailers that implement and comply with this article are not in restraint of trade, a conspiracy, or combination thereof, or any other unlawful activity in violation of any provisions of state antitrust laws.
(b)Except as provided in subdivision (c), an action taken to increase the recycling of primary batteries pursuant to this article by a producer or primary battery stewardship organization that affects the types or quantities being recycled or the cost and structure of any return program is not a violation of either the Cartwright Act (Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 16700) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code), or the Unfair Practices Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 17000) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code).
(c)Subdivision (b) shall not apply to any agreement establishing or affecting the price of primary batteries or the output or production of primary batteries, or any agreement restricting the geographic area in which, or customers to whom, primary batteries will be sold.