This bill establishes a comprehensive stewardship program in Minnesota for the management of circuit boards, batteries, and electrical products, with a focus on enhancing environmental protection and waste management. It prohibits the use of mercury in batteries and introduces new definitions for terms such as "battery," "circuit board," "covered product," and "stewardship organization." The bill also creates a Covered Products Reimbursement Board to recommend reimbursement rates for collectors of covered products and mandates that producers contract with a stewardship organization to submit a stewardship plan by October 1, 2026. The effective date for many provisions is set for January 1, 2027, while the definitions and establishment of the board take effect immediately.

Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of stewardship organizations, including ensuring convenient statewide collection of covered products and maintaining effective outreach efforts. It establishes a fee structure for the stewardship program, requiring the commissioner to assess annual administrative and recovery fees, which will be deposited into a product stewardship account. The bill also includes provisions for the safe disposal of batteries, prohibits the sale of certain mercury-containing batteries, and repeals existing statutes related to electronic waste management. Overall, the legislation aims to streamline regulations, improve recycling efforts, and reduce mercury exposure in Minnesota.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 115.071, 115A.121, 115A.554, 116.92, 115A.9157