California Signed New Laws Regulating Batteries and Waste

Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation targeting battery disposal, landfill safety, and nitrous oxide sales.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Electric Vehicles

Isometric editorial illustration of a heavy-duty industrial collection container in a clean, arid environment, representing battery waste regulation policy. — Governor Gavin Newsom signed new California environmental laws mandating standardized battery stewardship programs and increased oversight of landfill safety and thermal management. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new slate of environmental and safety laws aimed at regulating battery disposal, landfill management, and hazardous materials. The legislation follows rising concerns over safety risks posed by improperly discarded batteries and increasing subsurface temperatures in waste facilities.

Why it matters

These regulations address urgent public safety and waste management challenges, specifically targeting the fire risks created by improperly discarded batteries in trash and recycling systems. By standardizing stewardship and oversight, the state aims to mitigate hazardous conditions and improve landfill management.

The new legislation establishes a maximum fine of $100,000 for violations related to landfill temperature management. This follows persistent subsurface heat issues that have affected the Chiquita Canyon Landfill since 2022.

The players

Gavin Newsom

He is the Governor of California who signed the new legislative package into law.

CalRecycle

This is the California state department responsible for managing landfill temperature violations and recycling programs.

CalEPA

This is the California Environmental Protection Agency tasked with creating a multiagency group to monitor landfill heat events.

The details

SB 501 expands existing battery recycling laws to include medium-format batteries, requiring e-bike and lawn equipment manufacturers to participate in product stewardship programs. Additionally, AB 28 mandates that CalRecycle oversee landfill heat events, while SB 936 restricts nitrous oxide sales to reduce logistical burdens on waste programs.

2022: The Responsible Battery Recycling Act was originally signed and Chiquita Canyon Landfill issues began.
August 2026: Analysis of SB 501 identified battery-related fire risks.
September 2026: Governor Newsom signed the new slate of laws.

Roadmap

This legislation updates the state's framework established by the Responsible Battery Recycling Act of 2022. By shifting the focus to medium-format batteries, the state is addressing gaps in the recycling ecosystem as e-mobility and electric power tools become increasingly common.

Consumers should prepare for new requirements when disposing of e-bike and lawn equipment batteries as manufacturers adjust to the product stewardship program. Residents in areas near waste facilities may see increased oversight and improved safety measures aimed at preventing landfill fires.

The takeaway

California continues to tighten regulations on hazardous waste to combat rising fire risks in its recycling infrastructure. Residents can improve safety by properly identifying and recycling lithium-ion and other medium-format batteries according to updated state guidance.