(1) On or before December 1, 2028, a battery stewardship organization shall complete an assessment of the opportunities and challenges associated with the end-of-life management of portable and medium-format embedded batteries in the state. A battery stewardship organization should, to the extent feasible, extrapolate findings from related studies, including those conducted within Colorado, and apply the findings to the assessment for Colorado.
(2) In completing the assessment, a battery stewardship organization shall consult with the department and interested stakeholders and may coordinate with other battery stewardship organizations.
(3) As part of the assessment, a battery stewardship organization shall identify adjustments to the battery stewardship program requirements established by this part 10 that would maximize public health, safety, and environmental benefits.
(4) The assessment must consider:
(a) The different categories and uses of battery-containing products;
(b) Methods by which unwanted battery-containing products are managed in Colorado and other states and United States territories;
(c) Challenges posed by the potential collection in rural and urban areas, management, and transportation of battery-containing products, including challenges associated with removing batteries that were not intended or designed to be easily removed from products other than by the manufacturer; and
(d) Which requirements of this part 10 may apply to battery-containing products in a manner that is identical or analogous to the requirements applicable to covered batteries.
(5) The department shall submit the assessment completed pursuant to this section to the general assembly on or before March 1, 2028.
Source: L. 2025: Entire part added, (SB 25-163), ch. 421, p. 2394, � 1, effective August 6.
25-17-1010. Education and outreach requirements - coordination with other battery stewardship organizations - survey of public awareness. (1) A battery stewardship organization shall carry out promotional activities in support of the implementation of a battery stewardship program, including:
(a) The development and maintenance of a website;
(b) The development and distribution of periodic press releases and articles;
(c) The development and placement of advertisements for use on social media or other relevant media platforms;
(d) The development of promotional materials about the program and the requirements for the disposal of covered batteries pursuant to section 25-17-1014 to be used by persons, including retailers, government agencies, waste and recycling collectors, and nonprofit organizations;
(e) The development and distribution to collection sites of collection site safety training procedures that are in compliance with state and local law to help ensure proper management of covered batteries at collection sites; and
(f) The development and implementation of outreach and educational resources that are conceptually, linguistically, and culturally accurate for the communities served and that reach the state's diverse ethnic populations, including through meaningful consultation with disproportionately impacted communities.
(2) A battery stewardship organization shall provide:
(a) Consumer-focused educational and promotional materials to each collection site used by the battery stewardship program and to retailers that sell covered batteries or battery-containing products;
(b) Safety information related to covered battery collection activities to the operator of each collection site, including appropriate protocols to reduce risks of spills or fires, response protocols in the event of a spill or fire, and response protocols in the event of detection of a damaged or defective battery;
(c) Safety training materials for firefighters and first responders related to battery fires, response protocols in the event of a battery fire, and protocols for safe management of covered and damaged or defective batteries; and
(d) Educational materials to the operator of each collection site for the management of recalled batteries, which are not required to be collected pursuant to this part 10, to help facilitate the transportation and processing of recalled batteries.
(3) A battery stewardship organization may seek reimbursement from the producer of a recalled battery for expenses incurred in the collection, transportation, and processing of the recalled battery.
(4) Upon request by a retailer or other potential collector, a battery stewardship organization shall provide the retailer or other potential collector educational materials describing collection opportunities for batteries.
(5) If multiple battery stewardship organizations are implementing approved plans, the organizations shall coordinate in carrying out their education and outreach responsibilities pursuant to this section and shall include a summary of their coordinated education and outreach efforts in the annual reports required by section 25-17-1011.
(6) During the first year of program implementation, and every five years thereafter, a battery stewardship organization shall carry out, in coordination with the other approved battery stewardship organizations, a survey of public awareness regarding the requirements of the program established pursuant to this part 10. The battery stewardship organization shall share the results of the public awareness survey with the executive director through the annual reporting process described in section 25-17-1011.
Source: L. 2025: Entire part added, (SB 25-163), ch. 421, p. 2395, � 1, effective August 6.