Sandra Silva

I am testifying in support of the battery stewardship program because it provides several key benefits: • Environmental protection: Ensures batteries are safely collected and disposed of, reducing toxic materials entering landfills, incinerators, and the environment. • Cost savings for municipalities: Local governments no longer pay for battery collection boxes or disposal, with estimated potential savings of at least $150,000 annually statewide. • Producer responsibility: Shifts financial and operational responsibility for battery waste management from taxpayers and municipalities to battery producers, aligning costs with product lifecycle impacts. • Expanded and consistent recycling access: Creates a uniform, statewide system that improves convenient access to battery recycling for residents and businesses. • No net cost to the state: Program costs, including a part-time Environmental Scientist IV, are fully reimbursed by administrative payments collected from the battery stewardship organization, resulting in a net-neutral impact on state funds. • Regulatory clarity and oversight: Establishes clear standards, timelines, and accountability through DES oversight of approved stewardship plans and annual reporting. Overall, the program improves environmental outcomes, enhances public safety, saves local money, and ensures responsible end-of-life management for batteries without increasing state costs.