[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 111 (Thursday, June 9, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35202-35208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12459]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0340, FRL-9842-01-OLEM]


Development of Best Practices for Collection of Batteries To Be 
Recycled and Voluntary Battery Labeling Guidelines; Request for 
Information

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Request for Information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: EPA is developing best practices with respect to the 
collection of batteries to be recycled, as well as establishing a 
program to promote battery recycling through the development of 
voluntary labeling guidelines for batteries and communication materials 
for battery producers and consumers as directed by the Infrastructure 
Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. To aid in the implementation of these 
directives, the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR) 
within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requests information 
on the end-of-life management of batteries, including information on 
their generation, collection, recycling, reuse, as well as the current 
labeling standards/requirements for batteries regarding their end-of-
life. EPA is interested in both single-use batteries, also known as 
primary batteries, and rechargeable batteries, also known as secondary 
batteries. This includes lithium based, nickel-metal hydride, and other 
battery chemistries, as well as all battery types, such as small 
consumer batteries, large format batteries (including electric vehicles 
and grid energy storage), and industrial batteries used in 
manufacturing, commercial businesses, and healthcare operations. ORCR 
is also seeking information about how consumers, businesses, entities 
in the vehicle management chain (dealerships, repair shops, auction 
houses, dismantlers, entities that repurpose electric vehicle 
batteries, refurbishers, and scrap yards), and others are educated on 
how to manage batteries at the end-of-life. Information from a wide 
range of stakeholders involved in the battery lifecycle from its 
manufacture to its end-of-life management, including but not limited to 
industry stakeholders, researchers, academia, state, tribal, and local 
governments including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, 
other federal agencies, community groups, non-governmental 
organizations, the public, and international organizations.

DATES: Written comments and information must be received on or before 
July 11, 2022. EPA will also hold feedback sessions with an opportunity 
to provide live, verbal feedback. The dates and times for those 
feedback sessions will be posted on: https://www.epa.gov/rcra/feedback-sessions-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-solid-waste-and-recycling-programs. To stay connected about these feedback sessions subscribe to: 
https://www.epa.gov/recyclingstrategy/forms/stay-connected.

ADDRESSES: EPA invites submission of the requested information through 
one of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting your 
comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0340.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery or Courier: EPA Docket Center, WJC West 
Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. 
The Docket Center's hours of operations are 8:30

[[Page 35203]]

a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday (except Federal Holidays).
    Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from 
Regulations.gov. EPA may publish any comment received to its public 
docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, 
video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. For additional 
submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information 
about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making 
effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0340 for this notice. Comments received may be 
posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov/, including any 
personal information provided. For detailed instructions on sending 
comments see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning this 
document, contact Rita Chow, Resource Conservation and Sustainability 
Division, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Mail Code 5306T, 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 566-0227; email address: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ad8fbeeeeffe8f3ffe9daffeafbb4fdf5ec"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="135172676776617a7660537663723d747c65">[email protected]</span></a>. For more information on this action please visit 
https://www.epa.gov/rcra/infrastructure.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation

    Response to this RFI is voluntary. Responses to this RFI may be 
submitted by a single party or by a team. Respondents should respond to 
this RFI in a Microsoft Word (.docx) file or Adobe PDF (.pdf) file. 
This document should contain the following:
    <bullet> Two clearly delineated sections: (1) Cover page with 
company name and contact information; and (2) responses should indicate 
which topic and specific questions are being addressed.
    <bullet> 1-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides).
    <bullet> Times New Roman and 12-point font.
    Comments containing references, studies, research, and other 
empirical data that are not widely published should include copies or 
electronic links of the referenced materials. No confidential and/or 
business proprietary information, copyrighted information, or 
personally identifiable information should be submitted in response to 
this RFI. Privacy Note: All comments received from members of the 
public will be available for public viewing on Regulations.gov. In 
accordance with FAR 15.202(3), responses to this notice are not offers 
and cannot be accepted by the Federal Government to form a binding 
contract. Additionally, those submitting responses are solely 
responsible for all expenses associated with response preparation.

II. General Information

A. What is the purpose of this RFI?

    Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58), 
also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is directed to 
develop several new solid waste recycling programs. This RFI covers the 
following programs established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law:
    <bullet> The development of best practices that may be implemented 
by state, tribal, and local governments with respect to the collection 
of batteries to be recycled that is--technically and economically 
feasible; environmentally sound and safe for waste management workers; 
and optimize the value and use of material derived from recycling of 
batteries; and
    <bullet> The establishment of a program to promote battery 
recycling through the development of voluntary labeling guidelines for 
batteries and other forms of communication materials for battery 
producers and consumers about the reuse and recycling of critical 
materials from batteries. The purpose of the program is to improve 
battery collection and reduce battery waste by--identifying battery 
collection locations and increasing accessibility to those locations; 
promoting consumer education about battery collection and recycling; 
and reducing safety concerns relating to the improper disposal of 
batteries. EPA is also interested in the creation of labeling 
guidelines as a helpful tool in providing information to battery 
manufacturers about the recyclability of their products. EPA is 
interested in how the voluntary labeling guidelines might apply to 
small format, large format, and industrial batteries.
    This RFI seeks information on both single-use batteries, also known 
as primary batteries, and rechargeable batteries, also known as 
secondary batteries; all battery chemistries, including but not limited 
to: lithium based, nickel-metal hydride, and other battery chemistries; 
and all battery types, such as small consumer batteries, large format 
batteries (including electric vehicles and grid energy storage), and 
industrial batteries used in manufacturing, commercial businesses, and 
healthcare operations, to inform the scope of the battery collection 
best practices, voluntary labeling guidelines for batteries, and other 
forms of communication materials for battery producers and consumers 
about the reuse and recycling of critical materials from batteries. 
This RFI seeks input from all stakeholders involved in the battery 
lifecycle from its manufacture to its end-of-life management--including 
but not limited to the public, industry, researchers, academia, state, 
tribal, and local governments, including U.S. territories and the 
District of Columbia, other federal agencies, community groups, non-
governmental organizations, and international organizations. In 
addition to stakeholders involved with small consumer batteries, EPA 
also is interested in obtaining input from stakeholders involved with 
large format batteries (including electric vehicles and grid energy 
storage), and industrial batteries used in manufacturing, commercial 
businesses, and healthcare operations. This stakeholder input will 
inform the Agency's efforts to develop best practices with respect to 
the collection of batteries to be recycled, as well as to establish a 
program to promote battery recycling through the development of 
voluntary labeling guidelines for batteries and other forms of 
communication materials for battery producers and consumers about the 
reuse and recycling of critical materials from batteries.
    This RFI is part of a series of RFIs EPA will be issuing to inform 
the development of new programs under the Bipartisan Infrastructure 
Law. Other RFIs that are related include those on the Solid Waste 
Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program and the Recycling Education 
and Outreach--Grant Program and Model Recycling Program Toolkit. In 
addition, the U.S. Department of Energy will be issuing future 
information requests to advise their work to support battery recycling 
under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes several grant 
programs to support battery collection, safe storage and 
transportation, recycling, and second-use.

III. Background

    Critical materials, such as lithium, are key resources needed to 
manufacture products for the clean energy economy, including wind 
turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles. However, supply

[[Page 35204]]

chain disruptions associated with these valuable resources introduce 
uncertainty and instability in the production of these essential 
technologies. For example, reliable supplies of lithium and cobalt are 
needed to manufacture lithium-ion batteries which are used for electric 
vehicles and grid energy storage.
    In 2019, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a Federal Strategy 
to Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals,\1\ which 
included an action to improve understanding of domestic critical 
mineral resources, including secondary sources. In February 2021, 
President Biden signed Executive Order 14017, Executive Order on 
America's Supply Chains,\2\ to improve supply chain security for the 
U.S. Government and U.S. companies. In June 2021, the White House 
released its Building Resilient Supply Chains, Revitalizing American 
Manufacturing, and Fostering Broad-Based Growth \3\ report, which 
included a recommendation to build a foundation for accelerated growth 
in strategic and critical material recycling and recovery. The 
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments for both EPA and DOE in 
battery collection and recycling will help the nation strengthen and 
build more resilient supply chains.
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    \1\ https://www.commerce.gov/data-and-reports/reports/2019/06/federal-strategy-ensure-secure-and-reliable-supplies-critical-minerals.
    \2\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/24/executive-order-on-americas-supply-chains/.
    \3\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/100-day-supply-chain-review-report.pdf.
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    Batteries are important sources of critical minerals.\4\ Depending 
on the battery chemistry, critical minerals used in the manufacture of 
batteries include antimony, cobalt, graphite, lithium, manganese, and 
nickel. Batteries power many of the consumer devices, electronics and 
vehicles used in people's daily lives from household appliances to 
laptops, cell phones, wireless headphones, cameras, handheld gaming 
devices, cordless power tools, toys, flashlights, and other portable 
devices. Given the usefulness of batteries in these applications, 
especially lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, bikes, 
scooters, and grid energy storage, the demand for these batteries are 
expected to continue rising at an exponential rate.\5\ In the future, 
up to 40% of critical materials in batteries may be supplied from 
recycled batteries according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).\6\ 
Thus, there is a great opportunity to increase the recovery of critical 
materials by improving end-of-life management and recycling of 
batteries.
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    \4\ Strategic and critical minerals are any materials that are 
needed to supply the military, industrial, and essential civilian 
needs of the United States during a national emergency, and that are 
not found or produced in the U.S. in sufficient quantities to meet 
such need.
    \5\ Argus. (2017). The lithium market--the future is electric. 
https://www.argusmedia.com/-/media/Files/white-papers/the-lithium-market-the-future-is-electric.ashx.
    \6\ https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/harnessing-power-battery-rdd-battle-climate-change.
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    Batteries are also important in the nation's efforts to tackle 
climate change. First, batteries are essential to powering the nation's 
economy with clean, affordable, and resilient energy and transportation 
options. Economical and fast-charging batteries are important to 
spurring adoption of all-electric and plugin-hybrid vehicles, while 
high-energy-density battery storage is needed for solar and wind power. 
Second, recycling batteries can also reduce environmental impacts 
associated with their life cycle. Recycling batteries helps prevent 
valuable materials from going into the waste stream, reduce greenhouse 
gases that would be generated and energy needed to manufacture new 
batteries, and reduce the extraction of valuable and limited virgin 
resources.
    Batteries can also pose a hazard if managed incorrectly. Once the 
device is broken or the batteries lose their charge, they can end up in 
the regular waste or curbside recycling bins, which can result in 
dangerous situations. Batteries can start fires throughout the 
municipal waste management system, in transportation and at transfer 
facilities, to materials recycling facilities, scrap yards, and 
landfills, causing air pollution issues in already overburdened 
communities and threatening worker and first responder safety. In 
addition to the fire danger, when discarded improperly, such as in 
household trash or curbside recycling, critical materials inside 
batteries are lost and cannot be recycled into new batteries.
    The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes significant investments to 
address batteries in a holistic manner from producing critical 
minerals, sourcing materials for manufacturing, and even recycling 
critical materials without new extraction/mining. For DOE, it provided 
more than $7 billion investment in the supply chain for batteries, 
including investments in the end-of-life infrastructure for batteries 
from the collection, safe storage and transportation, recycling, and 
second-use. For EPA, it provided $10 million in funding for EPA to 
develop battery collection best practices that may be implemented by 
state, tribal, and local governments, including U.S. territories and 
the District of Columbia. It also provided $15 million in funding for 
EPA to establish a program to develop voluntary labeling guidelines for 
batteries and other forms of communication materials for battery 
producers and consumers about the reuse and recycling of critical 
materials from batteries. EPA and DOE are closely coordinating to carry 
out these investments to support battery collection and recycling 
infrastructure and communication materials. Together, EPA's and DOE's 
battery collection and recycling investments will help make it easier 
for the American people to recycle their batteries through proper 
channels and recover critical materials from batteries to strengthen 
the nation's battery supply chain.

IV. Request for Information

    Over the course of 2022, ORCR will be hosting virtual meetings 
across the country with interested stakeholders to inform the 
development of the new programs established by the Bipartisan 
Infrastructure Law. This RFI and the other RFIs aim to supplement those 
planned consultations and provide all interested individuals and 
organizations with the opportunity to share their perspectives on 
barriers and opportunities related to solid waste management 
infrastructure. EPA has also begun a series of strategies on building a 
circular economy for all, starting with the National Recycling 
Strategy.\7\ EPA is intending to develop a strategy to increase the 
circularity of electronics, including batteries, in order to reduce the 
life cycle environmental impact of these materials and increase the 
circularity of critical minerals. The information gathered here may 
also support that effort.
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    \7\ https://www.epa.gov/recyclingstrategy/strategies-building-circular-economy-all.
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    EPA has already endeavored to learn about the proper end-of-life 
management of batteries from its previous work to increase the 
recycling of batteries or electronics. EPA's Sustainable Electronics 
Challenge \8\ has encouraged electronics manufacturers, brand owners 
and retailers reduce environmental impacts across the lifecycle of 
electronic products. This includes the increased collection and 
recycling of electronics and their batteries to recover critical 
minerals. EPA also has held several educational

[[Page 35205]]

webinars \9\ on the hazards batteries pose in the waste stream and 
released a report in July 2021 which explored the growing number of 
fires from lithium batteries during waste management, An Analysis of 
Lithium-ion Waste Fires in Waste Management and Recycling.\10\ In 
October 2021, EPA held a two-day virtual stakeholder workshop aimed at 
addressing the issues caused by improperly disposed lithium-ion 
batteries, improving collection logistics, labeling, public education, 
design for recycling, and strategies to promote the recycling of either 
small format consumer electronic batteries or large format (electric 
vehicle, stationary source) batteries.\11\ The lithium-ion battery 
workshop discussions have provided initial information and identified 
additional areas for stakeholder input that would be of help to the 
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law battery efforts.
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    \8\ https://www.epa.gov/smm-electronics/sustainable-materials-management-smm-electronics-challenge#01.
    \9\ https://www.epa.gov/smm/sustainable-materials-management-smm-web-academy-webinar-introduction-lithium-batteries-and.
    \10\ https://www.epa.gov/recycle/importance-sending-consumers-used-lithium-ion-batteries-electronic-recyclers-or-hazardous.
    \11\ Summary Report for the EPA Lithium-Ion Battery Disposal and 
Recycling Stakeholder Workshop in October 2021, https://www.epa.gov/recycle/workshop-lithium-ion-batteries-waste-stream.
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    To build on this information and better inform the development of 
best practices with respect to the collection of batteries to be 
recycled and establish a program to promote battery recycling through 
the development of voluntary labeling guidelines for batteries and 
communication materials under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA 
has identified some key information categories on which stakeholder 
insights would be most helpful:
    <bullet> Scope and prioritization of the battery collection best 
practices
    <bullet> Understanding the battery collection and recycling system
    <bullet> Information on labeling guidelines for batteries regarding 
reuse and recycling
    <bullet> Information on battery reuse and recycling communication 
materials directed towards battery producers and consumers
    Following each information category, EPA has included a list of 
suggested questions as a helpful guide for consideration in preparing 
comments. EPA provides these questions simply to guide the type of 
comments the Agency would find useful to help inform the battery 
collection best practices and labeling efforts. EPA is interested in 
information about small format, large format, and industrial batteries. 
EPA encourages commenters to provide any other feedback or information 
that EPA should consider in developing best practices for the 
collection of batteries to be recycled, voluntary labeling guidelines 
for batteries, and communication materials for battery producers and 
consumers about the reuse and recycling of critical materials from 
batteries. EPA also requests that commenters include, wherever 
possible, supporting data or other qualitative information such as 
information about the barriers and challenges to collecting batteries 
for recycling and battery labels, successful battery collection 
programs and battery labels, and details on measurable benefits for 
industry, government, or consumers.

A. Suggestions on the Scope and Prioritization of the Battery 
Collection Best Practices

    The suggested questions below provide an opportunity for all 
commenters to provide input on the battery types, such as small 
consumer batteries and large format batteries (including electric 
vehicles and grid energy storage) and battery chemistries, including 
but not limited to: lithium based, nickel-metal hydride, and other 
battery chemistries to inform the scope of the best practices. For 
lead-acid batteries, EPA is aware that these batteries are manufactured 
with antimony, a critical mineral, and are currently recycled at a high 
rate especially from vehicles; thus, lead-acid batteries may not need 
to be considered in the battery collection best practices. However, EPA 
is interested in information on other lead-acid batteries such as 
small, sealed lead acid batteries that may not be recycled at a high 
rate. The suggested questions also are seeking information to inform 
the prioritization of which battery types/chemistries the collection 
best practices should target that will help increase the recovery of 
critical minerals, while also ensuring safe used battery recycling. EPA 
is also interested in any existing studies or reports with background 
information on batteries and their collection and recycling. EPA is 
interested in both batteries embedded in devices and standalone 
batteries. Commenters, however, should feel free to provide whatever 
pertinent information that would be useful to EPA as we consider the 
scope of the battery collection best practices. Commenters should 
clearly indicate whether the comment pertains to batteries embedded in 
devices and/or standalone batteries.
    <bullet> Please share any existing studies and reports with 
background information on:
    [cir] Battery types (e.g., small consumer batteries, large format 
vehicle and grid energy storage batteries, and industrial batteries) 
and chemistries that are manufactured with critical materials and/or 
critical minerals.\12\
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    \12\ U.S. Geological Survey 2022 List of Critical Minerals, 
https://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/us-geological-survey-releases-2022-list-critical-minerals.
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    [cir] Battery types (e.g., small consumer batteries, large format 
vehicle and grid energy storage batteries, and industrial batteries) 
and chemistries currently being collected and recycled; numbers of each 
battery type/chemistry recycled and disposed in the U.S. as well as 
number of batteries exported for recycling.
    [cir] Battery types (e.g., small consumer batteries, large format 
vehicle and grid energy storage batteries, and industrial batteries) 
and chemistries that best serve as feedstock into the manufacture of 
non-battery products or other applications.
    [cir] General geographic location of the battery recycling markets 
(e.g., percentages of batteries that go for recycling by geographic 
region, exported to certain countries, or by specific companies).
    <bullet> What battery types (such as small consumer batteries, 
large format vehicle and grid energy storage batteries, and industrial 
batteries) and chemistries have caused concerns when disposed of 
improperly?
    <bullet> What types of battery handlers in the reuse and recycling 
system should be included in the best practices for the collection of 
batteries for recycling?
    <bullet> What are the recycling markets for batteries? Which 
battery types/chemistries serve as feedstock into manufacturing new 
batteries?
    <bullet> How do state, tribal, and local governments, including 
U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, handle battery 
collection and recycling (e.g., under a specific policy, as part of an 
electronics waste program, etc.)? Please provide information and a 
description of the policy or program. What impact has the policy or 
program had on battery collection and recycling?
    <bullet> What barriers are state, tribal, and local governments, 
including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, facing 
regarding battery collection and recycling (e.g., lack of consumer 
participation, fire hazards, consumer mismanagement, lack of training 
for facility workers, battery removability) and what resources are 
needed to overcome them?
    <bullet> What state, tribal and local programs, including U.S. 
territories and

[[Page 35206]]

the District of Columbia, have been successful in achieving high 
recovery of critical minerals from end-of-life batteries?
    <bullet> Do state, tribal, and local governments, including U.S. 
territories and the District of Columbia, find common problems in 
educating the public about how batteries are collected?
    <bullet> Do state, tribal, and local governments, including U.S. 
territories and the District of Columbia, find common problems at 
battery collection? What existing best practices have been developed to 
address these common issues? How have these best practices increased 
safe battery recycling?
    <bullet> What problems have battery collection facilities 
encountered when handling and processing batteries?
    <bullet> Are there any evidence-based best practices for the 
collection of end-of-life batteries? If so, which organizations have 
developed them, what do commenters find useful about these practices, 
and what could be improved about them?
    <bullet> Do any communication materials exist on evidence-based 
battery collection best practices? If so, what could EPA improve about 
these communication materials. If not, what communication materials can 
EPA develop for state, tribal, and local governments, including U.S. 
territories and the District of Columbia, on battery collection best 
practices that would be useful for battery collection handlers and 
workers?
    <bullet> Is battery recycling accessible for residents in 
environmental justice communities? Do collection practices differ 
between urban, suburban, or rural areas?
    <bullet> What resources are needed to provide access and capacity 
building for residents in environmental justice communities without 
battery collection programs?

B. Understanding the Battery Collection and Recycling System

    To help EPA better understand the end-of-life collection and 
management of batteries, the Agency would like information on the key 
entities in the battery recycling process, including all the 
intermediary facilities in the process. In addition to consumer 
batteries, EPA also is interested in information on electric vehicle 
and grid energy storage batteries. Suggested questions to consider for 
comment submission include:
    <bullet> What are all of the steps in the battery recycling 
process, from point of collection to final integration into a new 
product?
    <bullet> What are the barriers to recycling and reuse of batteries? 
What are the barriers to recycling of small consumer batteries (e.g., 
removability of the batteries from the devices)? What are the barriers 
unique to recycling of large batteries, including those for grid energy 
storage and vehicle batteries?
    <bullet> What are the barriers to maximizing the recovery of 
critical materials and minerals during the collection and recycling 
process? Where are losses of critical materials occurring in the 
battery collection and recycling system? Where are their opportunities 
to improve the recovery of critical materials in the battery collection 
and recycling system?
    <bullet> What are the concerns and challenges with battery 
recycling faced by each entity in the battery recycling chain?
    <bullet> How are batteries collected in different areas--at 
collection facilities, special household hazardous waste collection, or 
electronics recycling events? What types of batteries (e.g., small 
consumer batteries, large format vehicle and grid energy storage 
batteries, and industrial batteries) and chemistries are targeted for 
collection? Are there any negative impacts on the community from these 
battery collection sites?
    <bullet> What types of facilities collect batteries in different 
areas (e.g., retail stores; government facilities, including libraries, 
fire stations, or other government facilities; electronic waste service 
businesses, scrap yards, and car dealerships, etc.)? What battery 
types/chemistries are collected? What collection methods are used 
(e.g., one bin for all battery types, multiple bins for different types 
of batteries, etc.)? What practices do collection sites utilize to 
safely accumulate batteries on site? What guidelines or requirements 
(e.g., tape battery ends or place in plastic bags, etc.) do consumers 
need to follow to drop off their used batteries? What are the costs 
and/or service fees charged for battery collection/recycling? When do 
original equipment manufacturers take back or retain ownership of 
batteries at end-of-life?
    <bullet> How are batteries that are damaged, defective, or recalled 
managed when collected?
    <bullet> What packing requirements are there for collected used 
batteries to be accepted by the next entity in the battery recycling 
chain?
    <bullet> What businesses serve as sorters and/or reuse and repair 
facilities (e.g., are they the same facilities that recycle electronic 
devices and electronic waste accessories)? What sorting methods are 
used, such as by hand, technology, etc.? How has the sorting method 
impacted the battery types recycled? What practices and trainings are 
utilized at battery sorting and reuse and repair facilities to protect 
workers from the hazards of handling and processing used batteries?
    <bullet> Which battery types/chemistries are sorted for reuse and 
repair versus recycling? What criteria determines the acceptability for 
reuse and repair? Which used batteries are designated for second life 
or refurbished? What are the markets for second life and refurbished 
batteries? What industry standards or other standards/specifications 
must be met for batteries that are repurposed into other uses?
    <bullet> What businesses serve as initial battery recycling pre-
processing facilities (e.g., are there businesses that specialize in 
battery recycling or is it done at the same facilities where electronic 
devices are recycled)? How many of these facilities operate in the 
U.S.? What battery types/chemistries are taken for pre-processing? What 
pre-processing technologies are utilized at these facilities, (e.g., 
crushing, disassembly)? How does the pre-processing technology impact 
the amount of the materials recovered from the used batteries?
    <bullet> How many battery recycling facilities are there in the 
United States? What types of batteries (e.g., small consumer batteries, 
large format vehicle and grid energy storage batteries, and industrial 
batteries) and chemistries are recycled at these facilities? What form 
of battery materials are accepted for recycling (e.g., disassembled 
batteries, crushed batteries, intact batteries, etc.)? What 
technologies are utilized to recycle batteries? How does the recycling 
technology impact the amount of materials recovered from the used 
batteries?

C. Information on Battery Labeling Guidelines

    Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is required to develop 
voluntary labeling guidelines for batteries and other forms of 
communication materials for battery producers and consumers about the 
reuse and recycling of critical materials from batteries. To undertake 
this effort, the Agency would like to obtain input on the scope of the 
development of voluntary labeling guidelines and understand existing 
battery labeling guidelines. The Agency also would like to obtain input 
from commenters on the scope of the development of other forms of 
communication materials for battery producers and consumers about the 
reuse and recycling of critical materials

[[Page 35207]]

from batteries as well as information on the existing communication 
materials that have been developed on the end-of-life management of 
batteries. In addition to labeling guidelines and communication 
materials for consumer batteries, EPA also is interested in 
communication materials for electric vehicle and grid energy storage 
batteries. Suggested questions to consider for comment submission on 
labeling practices/requirements include:
Scope of Voluntary Labeling Guidelines
    <bullet> What should be the goals of developing voluntary labeling 
guidelines for batteries (e.g., increase critical minerals recovery, 
provide information to consumers about recycling and where they should 
bring their batteries; provide information to sorters and/or recyclers 
about the chemistry in the batteries; provide information to entities 
in the vehicle management chain--dealerships, repair shops, auction 
houses, dismantlers, entities that repurpose electric vehicle 
batteries, refurbishers, and scrap yards about vehicle battery 
recycling)?
    <bullet> What information should be included on the label to 
achieve those goals (e.g., instructions on how to locate a collection 
or recycling facility, chemistry of batteries, symbol for not throwing 
batteries in the trash, curbside recycling bin or other inappropriate 
location)? How can this information be conveyed clearly to non-English 
speakers?
    <bullet> Where should a label be placed (on battery, on device, on 
packaging, in store, or other location)?
    <bullet> What considerations should be accounted for in developing 
labeling guidelines for batteries that will be widely adopted for use 
by battery producers/manufacturers?
Knowledge of Existing Battery Labeling Guidelines
    <bullet> What do consumers find confusing with current battery 
labels? Please share any evidence-based consumer studies that have been 
conducted on battery labels. How can the battery labels be improved?
    <bullet> What are the barriers to battery labeling for the 
manufacturers and for the collections and sorting facilities?
    <bullet> What state, tribal, and local governments including U.S. 
territories and the District of Columbia, industry, standard-setting 
organizations, international organizations, and countries have existing 
battery labeling guidelines? What are the labeling practice/
requirements/guidelines for the battery chemistry composition or the 
end-of-life management, including whether they are voluntary or 
mandatory?
    <bullet> How long have the labeling practices/guidelines been in 
existence?
    <bullet> What is the use/adoption rate by battery manufacturers? 
Why are some existing labeling standards adopted by battery 
manufacturers and not others? What are the barriers for adopting other 
labeling standards?
    <bullet> How have these existing labeling programs impacted battery 
recycling?
    <bullet> How are the labeling practices/requirements/guidelines 
administered? Are they administered by a specific organization or other 
mechanism? If administered by an organization, how does it operate, 
including how is it funded for its maintenance and operations?

D. Communication Materials for Battery Producers and Consumers About 
the Reuse and Recycling of Critical Materials From Batteries

    Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA also is required to 
develop other forms of communication materials for battery producers 
and consumers about the reuse and recycling of critical materials from 
batteries. To undertake this effort, the Agency would like to 
understand the existing communication materials that have been 
developed on the reuse and recycling of critical materials from 
batteries geared toward battery producers and consumers. EPA also would 
like to understand the existing communication materials that have been 
developed to help consumers on how and where to recycle their 
batteries. In addition to communication materials about small consumer 
battery recycling, EPA also is interested in existing communications 
materials about large format (electric vehicle and grid energy storage) 
batteries, and industrial batteries. Suggested questions to consider 
for comment submission on existing communication materials on the reuse 
and recycling of critical materials from batteries include:
    <bullet> How do consumers think about reusing and recycling used 
batteries (e.g., in the same manner as household recyclables or 
electronic wastes)?
    <bullet> How do battery producers think about reusing and recycling 
critical minerals from used batteries? Have there been specific efforts 
focused on communicating about reuse and recycling of used batteries 
with battery producers?
    <bullet> EPA is aware of some battery reuse and recycling 
communication materials that have been developed, including in 
Minnesota--Be Our Battery Hero,\13\ Larimer County, Colorado--Be Alert! 
Divert Hidden Batteries,\14\ and the Rechargeable Battery Recycling 
Corporation (RBRC)--Avoid the Spark.\15\ What other existing 
communication materials on the end-of-life management of batteries have 
been developed by federal, state, tribal, and local governments 
including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, industry, and 
EU and other international countries and organizations? Please include 
a description of the key outreach components, target audiences, and the 
format of the materials (e.g., toolkits, print resources, images, 
videos, social media messages, etc.). What do commenters find most 
useful about these existing communication materials? What evidence and 
data are available to demonstrate the impacts from these communication 
materials?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ https://recyclingandenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Be-A-Battery-Hero-Informational.pdf.
    \14\ https://www.larimer.org/solidwaste/batteries.
    \15\ https://www.call2recycle.org/avoid-the-spark/#campaign-highlights.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    <bullet> What communication materials can EPA develop to assist 
state, tribal, and local governments, including U.S. territories and 
the District of Columbia, about battery collection and recycling to 
increase the recovery of critical minerals from batteries? What 
information/messages should be included in the communication materials 
for battery producers? For consumers? What resources do state, tribal, 
and local governments, including U.S. territories and the District of 
Columbia, need to educate and elicit positive battery producer and 
consumer behavior changes for used batteries?
    <bullet> The Agency is aware of websites, such as Earth911 and 
RBRC's Call2recycle.org, that can provide consumers and businesses with 
information on managing their used batteries. What other tools and 
resources have been developed by federal, state, tribal, and local 
governments including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, 
industry, non-profit organizations, EU and other international 
organizations and countries to help consumers, businesses, and the 
entities in the battery reuse and recycling chain manage used 
batteries? Please include information and a description of the tools 
and resources (e.g., battery identification guides, call centers, 
battery collection locators, mobile phone applications, social media 
tools, etc.). What evidence and data are

[[Page 35208]]

available to demonstrate the impacts from these tools and resources?

V. Disclaimer and Important Note

    This RFI is issued solely for information, research and planning 
purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposals (RFP) or a 
Request for Applications (RFA). Any information obtained as a result of 
this RFI is intended to be used by EPA on a non-attribution basis to 
support EPA's efforts to develop best practices for the collection of 
batteries to be recycled, voluntary labeling guidelines for batteries, 
and communication materials for battery producers and consumers about 
the reuse and recycling of critical materials from batteries. This RFI 
does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or abstracts. 
Your response to this notice will be treated as information only. EPA 
will review and consider all responses in its development of battery 
collection best practices and creation of voluntary battery labeling 
guidelines that are the subject of this request. This RFI does not 
represent any award commitment on the part of EPA, nor does it obligate 
EPA to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of any 
responses.

    Dated: June 3, 2022.
Carolyn Hoskinson,
Director, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery.
[FR Doc. 2022-12459 Filed 6-8-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


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