Illinois opened its statewide battery recycling program May 28 under the Illinois Portable and Medium-format Battery Stewardship Act, naming Atlanta-based The Battery Network as the state-approved stewardship organization for household and medium-format cells.

The statute extends producer responsibility to every primary and rechargeable battery sold for household use, plus medium-format rechargeables up to 25 pounds or 2,000 watt-hours — packs that power e-bikes, e-scooters, cordless lawn mowers and snowblowers. Collection runs through participating retailers, municipalities, businesses and community organizations. Damaged and defective lithium cells — units that are swollen, leaking, cracked, crushed, overheated or corroded — must be dropped only at authorized sites.

"Battery recycling programs support responsible materials management for our residents and strengthen recycling infrastructure across Illinois," Illinois EPA Director James Jennings said. "We are encouraged to see early adoption of the program, which shows Illinois households and businesses are seeking expanded recycling options."

The Battery Network CEO Leo Raudys tied the launch to safety and resource recovery. "Proper battery recycling protects communities, workers and the environment," Raudys said. "Thanks to our statewide network of convenient drop-off locations, Illinois residents can now recycle safely and easily, keeping batteries out of landfills and helping to conserve valuable materials for the future."

What does the program actually take?

The acceptance list runs in three categories:

• Household batteries — primary and rechargeables from remotes, toys, flashlights, cordless power tools, portable chargers and drones.
• Medium-format batteries — rechargeables capped at 25 lb or 2,000 Wh, covering most consumer e-mobility and outdoor power equipment packs.
• Damaged or defective batteries — lithium units that are swollen, leaking, cracked, crushed, overheated, corroded or otherwise unsafe for normal use. The Battery Network routes these only to authorized collection sites.

How will the collection network reach residents?

The stewardship organization is building a distributed drop-off footprint rather than curbside collection. Retailers, municipal sites, waste haulers, businesses and community groups serve as collection points across the state, with the network designed to expand as participating locations come online. The act obligates the program to deliver convenient access statewide.

Why does the damaged-lithium channel matter?

The damaged/defective stream covers swollen, leaking, cracked, crushed, overheated or corroded lithium cells — units that should not enter standard household collection. Routing those batteries to authorized sites addresses the highest-incidence hazard in the consumer stream. The Battery Network says recycling through the program reduces fire risk, protects the environment and supports recovery of materials for future products.

What happens next?

The first reporting milestone under the Illinois Portable and Medium-format Battery Stewardship Act is the program's submission to Illinois EPA, which will cover collection tonnage, participating drop-off-site counts, and progress against the statute's convenience benchmarks. The Battery Network has also joined the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) as a corporate partner, an affiliation that broadens the organization's operational footprint beyond Illinois.