MAINE PUBLIC • April 3, 2026
Maine consumers could soon have a way to safely get rid of used batteries under a take-back program approved by the Legislature. The product stewardship program would require manufacturers to establish a system to collect and dispose or recycle used alkaline and lithium-ion batteries. Sen. Denise Tepler, D-Topsham, said many consumers were confused about where and how to get rid of used batteries. "They throw them in the trash or put them in some sort of recycling bin, and they have been causing fires at landfills and transfer stations all over the state," Tepler said. The measure is intended to reduce waste volume and save taxpayer money. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection drafted the measure in part to separate lithium-ion batteries from the general waste stream.