Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73
§14301 Findings
Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 137— - MANAGEMENT OF RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES AND BATTERIES CONTAINING MERCURY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERALLY › § 14301
Summary
Phase out mercury in batteries and set up efficient, cost‑effective systems to collect, recycle, or dispose of used nickel‑cadmium, small sealed lead‑acid, and other regulated batteries and educate the public. Adopt uniform national battery labels for products and packaging to help recycling and encourage users to take part.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §14301
The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Congress finds that—
(1)it is in the public interest to—
(A)phase out the use of mercury in batteries and provide for the efficient and cost-effective collection and recycling or proper disposal of used nickel cadmium batteries, small sealed lead-acid batteries, and other regulated batteries; and
(B)educate the public concerning the collection, recycling, and proper disposal of such batteries;
(2)uniform national labeling requirements for regulated batteries, rechargeable consumer products, and product packaging will significantly benefit programs for regulated battery collection and recycling or proper disposal; and
(3)it is in the public interest to encourage persons who use rechargeable batteries to participate in collection for recycling of used nickel-cadmium, small sealed lead-acid, and other regulated batteries.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title
Pub. L. 104–142, § 1,
May 13, 1996, 110 Stat. 1329, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act’.” Pub. L. 104–142, title I, § 101,
May 13, 1996, 110 Stat. 1332, provided that: “This title [enacting subchapter II of this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act’.” Pub. L. 104–142, title II, § 201,
May 13, 1996, 110 Stat. 1336, provided that: “This title [enacting subchapter III of this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Mercury-Containing Battery Management Act’.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 14301
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73