United States Environmental Protection Agency

EPA530-K-97-009November 1997http://www.epa.gov

Implementation of the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act 

Solid Waste And Emergency Response(5306W)

sing 

 Loop 

h Rechargeable

teries
1

Whether at work or at home, more and more Americans are

enjoying the convenience of rechargeable batteries.

They’re being used in cellular phones, laptop computers, cordless

power tools, and video cameras. In fact, more than 350 million

rechargeable batteries are purchased annually in the United States.

When thrown away, these batteries can contribute to the toxicity

levels of landfills and incinerator ash, as many of

them contain heavy metals. Recycling 

rechargeable batteries not only gives new life 

to discarded products—it helps prevent the

release of hazardous constituents into the

environment.

On May 13, 1996, President Clinton signed into

law the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable

Battery Management Act (the Battery Act). This Act

represents a major step forward in the effort to

facilitate the recycling of nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd)

and certain small sealed lead-acid (SSLA) rechargeable batteries

and to phase out the use of mercury in batteries.

This booklet explains what this important law means to you. It

equips readers with the “basics” on the Battery Act and provides

information on successful recycling programs for rechargeable batteries. In this booklet, you will find:

■ A summary of state and federal requirements affecting battery

recycling prior to passage of the Battery Act

■ A summary of the Act’s requirements

■ Why proper disposal or recycling is necessary for Ni-Cd and

SSLA batteries

■ State, local, and private-sector initiatives to recycle used

rechargeable batteries

Recycling recharg

able batteries no

only gives new lif

discarded produc

it helps prevent 

release of hazard

constituents into 

environment.
2

Acknowledging the steady increase in the use of rechargeable batteries, as well as potential environmental impacts

resulting from their improper disposal, Congress passed the Battery

Act to facilitate the increased collection and recycling of Ni-Cd

and certain SSLA rechargeable batteries. The Act targets battery

and product manufacturers and battery waste handlers—not consumers. Different sections of the Act apply to different types of

batteries. Specifically, the Act:

■ Establishes national, uniform labeling requirements for 

Ni-Cd and certain SSLA rechargeable batteries.

■ Mandates that Ni-Cd and certain SSLA rechargeable batteries be “easily removable” from consumer products. A battery

can be easily removed if it is detachable or removable from

the product with the use of common household tools.

■ Makes the Universal Waste Rule (see page 4) effective

immediately in all 50 states for the collection, storage, and

transportation of batteries covered by the Battery Act. (For a list of

covered batteries, see EPA’s codification rule, expected to be

promulgated in late 1997. That rule will codify the requirements of Section 104 of the Battery Act into Title 40 of the

Code of Federal Regulations.)

■ Requires EPA to establish a public education program on

battery recycling and the proper handling and disposal of

used batteries. EPA is required to consult with manufacturers

and retailers to carry out this initiative.

■ Prohibits, or otherwise conditions, the sale of certain types of

mercury-containing batteries (i.e., alkaline-manganese, zinccarbon, button cell mercuric-oxide, and other mercuricoxide batteries) in the United States.

Battery Act At A Glance
3

Battery Recycling Prior 

to the Battery Act

Prior to the Battery Act, 13 states took the lead by passing

laws to facilitate the collection and recycling of used

rechargeable batteries. These laws required that rechargeable dry

cell batteries be labeled as recyclable and be easily removable

from consumer products. The 13 states are California,

Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New

Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and

Vermont. All of these states except California, New Hampshire,

New York, and Oregon also established battery collection and

recycling programs. 

Although somewhat similar, there were slight differences in the laws

enacted by the states. The laws differed in whether the battery

labels were required to include the three chasing arrows

or some other recycling symbol, the manufacturer’s

name, or a toll-free telephone number. There were

also differences regarding whether the text must appear

on the product or the packaging, in the instruction

manual, or on the battery itself. 

On the federal level, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

(RCRA) regulates hazardous wastes and establishes comprehensive

reporting, handling, and transportation requirements for hazardous

wastes. Since batteries often contain hazardous or potentially hazardous constituents, many batteries, including Ni-Cd and SSLA

rechargeable batteries, may be regulated under RCRA. The law

does exempt household waste, which often includes some batteries.

In addition, certain small businesses (i.e., conditionally exempt

small quantity generators) may be exempt from some RCRA regulations under certain circumstances. Other businesses and institutions that handle batteries that are hazardous waste may be subject to the full array of hazardous waste regulations.

2
4

mulgated the Universal Waste Rule to reduce the amount of hazardous wastes entering the municipal solid waste stream, encourage the recycling and proper disposal of certain common hazardous wastes, and reduce the regulatory burden on businesses

that generate these wastes by simplifying the

applicable regulations and making them easier to

comply with. This rule recognizes that some common hazardous wastes—such as used Ni-Cd

rechargeable batteries—do not require the full

array of hazardous waste regulatory requirements.

It also eases the regulatory burden on battery

handlers and transporters by streamlining a number of RCRA’s hazardous waste collection and

management requirements, including those related to notification, labeling/marking, accumulation time limits, employee training, and offsite

shipment, among others. For example, the

Universal Waste Rule extends the amount of time

that certain businesses can accumulate used rechargeable batteries on site. It also allows certain companies to transport them with

a common carrier, instead of a hazardous waste transporter.

The Universal Waste Rule, however, does not automatically apply

in each state. In states authorized by EPA to implement the Federal

hazardous waste program, the rule is not applicable until those

states revise their programs to adopt equivalent requirements

under state law and receive authorization from EPA.

Hence, prior to passage of the Battery Act, a battery recycling program spanning across several states had to comply with varying,

and sometimes conflicting, state labeling and waste management

regulations. In some states, the rechargeable batteries were subject

to the full array of hazardous waste requirements, while in other

states the rechargeable batteries were subject to the reduced

Universal Waste Rule requirements.

Prior to passage of

the Battery Act, a

battery recycling

program spanning

across several

states had to comply

with varying, and

sometimes conflicting, state labeling

and waste management regulations.
5

Unlike single-use batteries, which must be replaced once

their charge is used up, rechargeable batteries are

designed for the long haul. Depending on the application,

some rechargeable batteries can recharge up to 1,000 times!

Recharging the battery simply reverses the chemical reaction

inside it. This changes the battery’s components nearly back to

their original state and allows them to be reused. 

About 80 percent of rechargeable batteries

are currently composed of nickel and cadmium

(known as “Ni-Cd”). Ni-Cd rechargeable

batteries are commonly found in cellular

and cordless telephones, video cameras,

portable power tools, and laptop computers.

The use of these batteries continues to grow.

It has been estimated that one-half billion

Ni-Cd batteries will be sold in the year 2000. 

Small sealed lead acid batteries (SSLA)

are used in emergency lighting, security

and alarm systems, computer backup

devices, and hospital equipment. They

are also used in cellular phones, laptop

computers, and power tools. 

Rechargeable batteries may initially be more expensive than singleuse batteries, and they sometimes require the purchase of a

recharger, but the upfront costs are often outweighed by the longterm cost savings and environmental benefits of rechargeables.

Each rechargeable battery may substitute for hundreds of single-use

batteries over its useful life. (See Section 3 of the Act for the specific definition of “rechargeable battery” as it applies to the Act.)

Batteries?
There are two major sections of the Battery

Act. The first section, or Title I, facilitates

the efficient recycling of Ni-Cd, certain SSLA, and other rechargeable batteries. The second section, or Title II, phases out the use of

batteries that contain mercury.

Title I: Rechargeable Batteries

The Battery Act changed the regulatory framework governing rechargeable batteries. It streamlined the framework in an effort to remove

the regulatory barriers to increased recycling of rechargeable batteries.

Below is a summary of Title I’s major provisions and requirements.

Section 103: Easy Removability and Labeling Requirements for

Rechargeable Batteries and Products 

The Act establishes national, uniform labeling requirements for regulated batteries and rechargeable consumer products and mandates that regulated batteries manufactured after May 13, 1997 be

“easily removable” from consumer products. A battery can be “easily removed” if it is detachable or removable from the product with

the use of common household tools. The term “regulated battery”

refers to Ni-Cd, certain SSLA, and, in the future, other rechargeable

batteries and battery packs if EPA decides to add them to the list.

(See Section 3 of the Act for the specific definitions of “easily

removable,” “regulated battery,” “rechargeable battery,” “rechargeable consumer product,” and other important terms as they apply to

the Act. See in particular Section 3(5)(C) for an understanding of

which types of lead-acid batteries are subject to Section 103.) 

The requirements of Section 103 include:

■ Regulated batteries must bear the 3 chasing arrows or a comparable recycling symbol.

■ Nickel-cadmium batteries must be labeled “nickel-cadmium” or

“Ni-Cd,” with the phrase “BATTERY MUST BE RECYCLED OR

DISPOSED OF PROPERLY.”

6
■ Rechargeable consumer products containing nonremovable 

Ni-Cd batteries must be labeled with the phrase “CONTAINS

NICKEL-CADMIUM BATTERY. BATTERY MUST BE RECYCLED

OR DISPOSED OF PROPERLY.”

■ Rechargeable consumer products containing nonremovable

regulated lead-acid batteries must be labeled with the phrase

“CONTAINS SEALED LEAD BATTERY. BATTERY MUST BE

RECYCLED.” 

■ The required labeling also must be carried on the packaging of

rechargeable consumer products containing regulated batteries

that are not easily removable, and on the packaging of regulated batteries that are sold separately from such products, if the

labeling on the product or battery is not visible through the

packaging.

■ Battery and product manufacturers may use a different label if it

conveys the same information as described above or it conforms

with a recognized international standard that is consistent with the

intent of the Battery Act. The manufacturers, however, must apply

for EPA certification. (Until May 13, 1998, no certification is needed if the label is in “substantial compliance” with Section 103.)

■ No municipality, state, or federal agency may enforce any easy

removability or labeling requirement for a rechargeable battery

or product that is not identical to that described in Section 103

of the Battery Act.

■ Rechargeable consumer product manufacturers may petition EPA

for an exemption from the easy removability requirement by

showing that a product with easily removable batteries and with

equivalent performance could not be made without posing a

threat to human health, safety, or the environment, or without

violating other public or private standards.

7
The other major provision of Title I involves the federal Universal

Waste Rule. To prevent states from having different regulations for

managing batteries covered by the Battery Act, the Act made the

Universal Waste Rule for covered batteries effective in all 50 states

since May 13, 1996. This provides national uniformity in the collection, storage, and transportation of used Ni-Cd and certain

other rechargeable batteries and certain mercury-containing batteries. (For a list of batteries covered by Section 104 of the Act, see

EPA’s codification rule, expected to be promulgated in late 1997.)

The Battery Act also preempts state legislative and regulatory

authority for the collection, storage, and transportation of

covered batteries. Normally, under RCRA, states can choose

to be more stringent than the federal government. The

Battery Act, however, does not give states the option of

establishing more stringent regulations than specified in

the Act, in regard to the collection, storage, and transportation of covered batteries. States may seek EPA approval

to implement and enforce requirements identical to those found

in Section 104(a) (i.e., the federal Universal Waste Rule).

Title II: Mercury Batteries

The purpose of Title II is to phase out the use of batteries that contain mercury. Title II specifically prohibits the sale of any alkalinemanganese (except for button cells containing up to 25mg mercury) and zinc-carbon batteries that contain mercury that was

intentionally introduced (as distinguished from mercury that may be

incidentally present in other materials used to produce these batteries). Also prohibited is the sale of button cell mercuric-oxide batteries. Other mercuric-oxide batteries are prohibited from being

sold unless the manufacturer (1) identifies a collection site in the

United States where mercuric-oxide batteries can be sent for recycling or proper disposal, (2) informs each of its purchasers of the

collection site, and (3) provides each of its purchasers with a telephone number that the purchaser may call to get information

about sending mercuric-oxide batteries for recycling or proper disposal. Finally, EPA may exempt from the Title II sales prohibitions a

8

Battery Act
hazardous waste requirements of RCRA).

State Authority

As described under Section 7 of the Act, states can implement and

enforce any requirement that is identical to (and hence not more or

less stringent than) that in the Battery Act with respect to the labeling and easy removability of rechargeable batteries, and the collection, storage, and transportation of covered batteries. States

can, however, adopt more stringent requirements for any other

Battery Act provision, such as those in Title II. Finally, the Battery

Act does not govern the recycling and disposal of covered batteries. States can, therefore, continue to adopt and enforce standards

for the recycling and disposal of covered batteries that are more

stringent than existing federal standards under RCRA.

Enforcement

The enforcement provisions that are described in Section 5 of the

Battery Act are fairly straightforward.

■ EPA may require compliance and/or assess a civil penalty of up

to $10,000 for each violation of the labeling, easy removability,

and Title II requirements of the Act. Under an exemption to the

Act’s enforcement provisions, EPA cannot take enforcement

action against retailers for selling a battery or product that does

not meet the labeling or easy removability requirements of the

Act. This may encourage retailers’ voluntary participation in battery recycling by protecting retailers from prosecution for the

sale of batteries that they purchase from a person, such as a

manufacturer, who violates the Act. However, importers are not

exempt from liability, and a retailer can be held liable by EPA if

it has knowledge that the chemical contents of a battery are in

violation of Title II of the Act.

■ Violations of the requirements of Section 104 and the Universal

Waste Rule are enforced separately by EPA under the Solid 9
Violations of these requirements are subject to the stringent

penalties and broad remedies available under RCRA.

Promotion of Recycling of Rechargeable

Batteries

Public education and participation are keys to

the success of any recycling program—and

are particularly important with materials like

batteries that have not been commonly

recycled. A public education program can

heighten awareness of the recycling program, involve more

individuals and businesses, and increase the number of batteries

collected. With this in mind, Section 4 of the Act requires EPA to

consult with rechargeable battery manufacturers, rechargeable

consumer product manufacturers, and retailers to establish a public education program on battery recycling and the proper handling and disposal of used Ni-Cd and certain SSLA batteries.

10

Public education 

and participation

are keys 

to the success 

of any recycling

program—and are 

particularly important

with materials like

batteries that 

have not been 

commonly recycled.
and SSLA Batteries?

The toxic heavy metals, such as cadmium and lead, found in

rechargeable Ni-Cd and SSLA batteries perform critical functions within the battery. Heavy metals are contained within the battery’s casing and pose no real risks while the battery is in use. But

they can be of concern when discarded with ordinary municipal

solid waste, as most batteries are. Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries

were estimated to represent approximately 75 percent of the cadmium found in municipal solid waste in 1995. EPA projected that

lead-acid rechargeable batteries, of which SSLAs are a small percentage, would represent approximately 65 percent of the lead

found in municipal solid waste in 1995.

At present, approximately 73 percent of municipal solid waste is

either landfilled or incinerated. Neither of these methods is ideally

suited for batteries that contain heavy metals. In landfills, especially

those without liners and controls, heavy metals have the potential

to leach slowly into soil, ground water, and surface water. When

incinerated, metals such as cadmium and lead can concentrate in

the ash produced by combustion and enter the atmosphere

through incinerator smokestack emissions. When disposed of, the

metals in the incinerator ash can leach into the environment. In the

environment, certain types of heavy metals can also concentrate in

the tissues of organisms and make their way up the food chain.

Several metals, such as cadmium, are known carcinogens. The

possible health effects associated with ingestion or inhalation of

water, food, or air that has been contaminated with high levels of

heavy metals range from headaches and abdominal discomfort to

seizures, cancer, comas, and even death. The severity of the health

effects are usually dependent on the total concentration of the metals to which one is exposed over time. 

Recycling programs for Ni-Cd and SSLA rechargeable batteries

can address the potential risks posed by landfilling or incinerating 11
How State and Local

Governments Can Promote 

Ni-Cd and SSLA Battery

Recycling

State and local governments play an important role in developing and implementing a successful battery recycling program. Public education efforts are essential to the success of a battery collection program. A public education program developed by

a state or local government can heighten a community’s awareness of the need to reduce heavy metals in the waste stream,

involve more residents and businesses in battery collection, and

increase the number of batteries collected. (See “Options” section

for information on industry trade associations which have developed outreach materials that could be used by state and local

governments.)

To implement an effective local education program, governments can:

■ Identify the major users of Ni-Cd and SSLA batteries in their areas. 

■ Create an education committee to work with recycling staff or

volunteers. Committee members can include state and local

recycling coordinators, battery manufacturing industries, battery

retailers, battery recycling associations, and the public. The

committee can devise a comprehensive local education strategy

and be responsible for educating other members

of their respective interest groups. Some members, such as businesses and trade associations,

can also contribute money or in-kind services and resources to defray the costs and

increase the effectiveness of the program.

12
to create workshops of industry and government officials. During these workshops, governments can provide industry managers with

information about state and local legislation,

schedules for collecting the used batteries, and

any incentives for participating in the recycling

program, such as providing containers for collecting their used batteries. 

■ Work with retailers serving as collection points

to develop and distribute educational materials. Materials can include posters, brochures,

stickers, flyers, and newsletters. In addition,

governments can send press releases promoting the program to local newspapers, radio,

and cable television stations. A variety of other

creative channels, including distributing flyers

through community schools or utility bill inserts,

can also help promote the program. 

What Options Exist 

for Recycling Ni-Cd 

and SSLA Batteries?

One national Ni-Cd rechargeable battery recycling program

and several successful state government and regional NiCd rechargeable battery recycling programs are currently being

implemented around the country. A program for the recycling of

commercial SSLA rechargeable batteries is currently being established with the support of the Portable Rechargeable Battery

Association (PRBA) and the Battery Council International (BCI).

13

State and local

governments can

heighten a comm

nity’s awareness 

of the need to

reduce heavy

metals in the wa

stream, involve

more residents a

businesses in

battery collection

and increase the

number of batte

collected.
14

By recycling rechargeable batteries in the products they

use, businesses and public agencies can take advantage

of a convenient way to help the environment. Retailers, businesses, and public agencies can institute “take-back” programs

and contribute funds for public education and battery collection. (See “Options” section for information that industry trade

associations provide to retailers, businesses, and public agencies.)

Retailers of Ni-Cd and SSLA batteries can work with state and local

governments to collect used batteries. Retailers can display posters

or signs informing the community of the need to recycle these

batteries and of the names and addresses of battery collection

sites. Retailers can also provide used-battery collection containers

that will be sent to an appropriate storage or recycling facility. 

Businesses and public agencies, such as hospitals, computer

companies, auto manufacturers, and police and fire departments, that use a large number of Ni-Cd or SSLA batteries can

work on their own or with state and local governments to facilitate the collection of their used batteries. These businesses and

agencies can develop their own collection programs by educating their employees about the importance of recycling these

batteries and by providing containers or schedules for the collection of their used batteries. In addition, businesses and public agencies can fund or staff community collection programs

and/or sponsor employee collection events that may last from

one day to a week. All businesses that use cordless products—

such as cellular phones, laptop computers, video recorders,

and power tools—whether large Fortune 500 companies,

small companies, or conditionally exempt small quantity generators, should be encouraged to participate in the collection

and recycling of rechargeable batteries.

Businesses, and Public

Agencies Play?
gy

Recycling Program

Charging Up to Recycle!

RBRC, a nonprofit organization representing many

rechargeable battery manufacturers, developed

the Charge Up to Recycle! program to help keep

Ni-Cd batteries out of the solid waste stream and

prevent toxins from ending up in landfills or municipal incinerators. 

The Charge Up to Recycle! program offers various recycling plans

for communities, retailers, businesses, and public agencies. For

each group, RBRC pays or shares the cost of consolidating the

batteries, shipping them to the processing facility, and recycling

them. The program sends all Ni-Cd batteries to the

International Metals Reclamation Company

(INMETCO), a recently opened cadmium recovery

facility in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. At the facility,

the nickel and iron are separated from the cadmium

and shipped to specialty steel producers for use in

stainless steel products. The recovered cadmium, at a

99.95 percent purity level, is used to produce new Ni-Cd

rechargeable batteries.

For more information about the Charge Up to Recycle! program,

or for the location of the collection site nearest you, visit the web

site at http://www.rbrc.com or call RBRC’s toll-free number at 

1-800-8-BATTERY.

State Government and Regional Ni-Cd

Rechargeable Battery Recycling Programs

Many state governments and regional organizations have established successful Ni-Cd rechargeable battery recycling programs.

Here are descriptions of two such programs:
currently collect used NiCd batteries. Massachusetts worked with

RBRC to establish collection points in more than 100 of the state’s

351 municipalities. These municipal collection points complement

retail collection locations in Massachusetts that were established

under RBRC’s national program.

Massachusetts’ Department of Environmental Protection distributes

5-gallon plastic buckets to each of its four regional offices. These

offices in turn make them available to municipal recycling coordinators who place them in centrally located, visible sites in the community. RBRC coordinates outreach efforts to residents to educate

them that Ni-Cd batteries can be recycled and to inform them of

where to take their batteries for recycling.

For more information about Massachusetts’ battery recycling efforts,

contact the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Household Hazardous Waste Hot Line at 1-800-343-3420.

Battery Drop Stop Program

Battery recycling may be just a phone call away! In January 1997,

EPA Region 5 and Ameritech, a major manufacturer of cellular

phones and pagers, teamed up to launch “Battery Drop Stop,” a

cellular battery recycling program intended to keep Ni-Cd batteries

out of our nation’s landfills. Under this program, consumers can

drop off their Ni-Cd cellular batteries at any of Ameritech’s more

than 1,000 retail associates and authorized dealers across the

Midwest for recycling. Ameritech will accept any kind of Ni-Cd cellular batteries, regardless of brand or service provider, for recycling. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation plays an

active role in the program, providing special battery collection

boxes and coordinating the recycling at its facility in Pennsylvania.

Interested consumers can obtain a copy of their free brochure with

more details on the battery recycling program and/or find the

location of the nearest Ameritech “Battery Drop Stop” by calling 

1-800-MOBILE (1-800-662-4531). 

16
ufacturers of SSLAs and products that contain them, with support

from PRBA and BCI, are establishing a collection

program. Commercial SSLA batteries have four

primary end uses: uninterrupted power sources,

emergency lighting, alarm systems, and hospital

equipment. Manufacturers are working to

establish collection points for commercial SSLA

batteries in five states by the end of 1997. These states

are Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, and New

Jersey. Users of products that contain the batteries

are responsible for transporting them to collection

centers, while manufacturers of the batteries facilitate

their recycling. Commercial SSLAs are recycled with other

lead-acid batteries at secondary smelters.

For more information about the commercial SSLA battery recycling

program, contact PRBA at 770-612-8826. 

17

Almost one-third 

of municipalities 

in the state 

of Massachusetts 

currently collect 

used Ni-Cd 

batteries.
■ A copy of the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery

Management Act (P.L. 104-142) can be downloaded from EPA’s

web site at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/state/

policy/pl104.txt.

■ For general questions about battery recycling, contact the RCRA

Hotline at 800-424-9346 or TDD 800-553-7672. In

Washington, DC, the number is 703-412-9810 or TDD 703-

412-3323. The RCRA Hotline is open from Monday through

Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time.

■ A handbook entitled Used Dry Cell Batteries: Is a Collection

Program Right for Your Community? is designed for local communities interested in establishing a program to collect used dry

cell batteries (i.e., both single-use and rechargeable). The document contains program cost information, public education

strategies, management options, and examples of community

programs around the country. To request a copy, call the RCRA

Hotline and reference document number EPA530-K-92-006.

■ More information on EPA’s Universal Waste Rule can be found on

EPA’s website at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/id/

univwast.htm. The rule was published in the May 11, 1995

Federal Register and is found in the Code of Federal Regulations

at 40 CFR Part 273, as well as at http://www.epa.gov/docs/

fedrgstr/EPA-WASTE/1995/May/Day-11/pr-223.html.

18
19

Bleicher, Samuel A. 1996. “The Mercury-Containing and

Rechargeable Battery Management Act of 1996: A New

Direction for Recycling.” Environment Reporter. Vol. 27. The

Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.

Fishbein, Betty. 1997. Extended Product Responsibility: A New

Principle for Product-Oriented Pollution Prevention. “Industry

Program to Collect and Recycle Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd)

Batteries.” pp. 6-1 to 6-32. EPA530-R-97-009.

Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management

Act. Pub. L. No. 104-142. (1996)

Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation. P.O. Box 141870,

Gainesville, Florida 32614-1870. Phone: 352-376-6693.

Fax: 352-376-6658. E-mail: rbrc@rbrc.com. Internet address:

http://www.rbrc.com.

U.S. EPA. 1997. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the

United States: 1996 Update. EPA530-R-97-015. Internet address:

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/msw96.htm.

U.S. EPA. 1995. Decision-Maker’s Guide to Solid Waste

Management, Second Edition. EPA530-R-95-023. Internet

address: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/dmg2.htm.

U.S. EPA. 1989. Characterization of Products Containing Lead

and Cadmium in Municipal Solid Waste in the United States,

1970 to 2000. EPA530-SW-89-015B.

References