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Washington just finalized another major extended producer responsibility (EPR) program — this time focused on batteries.
The Washington Department of Ecology has officially adopted the final rule implementing the state’s Battery Stewardship and Management Program, covering everything from collection, recycling, reporting, labeling, and — critically — what retailers can and cannot sell going forward.
If your stores sell portable electronics, tools, home goods, lighting, toys, scooters, appliances, or anything else powered by batteries, this rule matters.
And the compliance deadlines start coming faster than they look on paper.
Below is a retailer-focused breakdown.
Battery EPR programs shift responsibility for end-of-life management away from municipal systems and toward the companies that place batteries on the market.
Under Washington’s program, most battery producers must:
Retailers play a key role — not by filing plans — but by only selling products from compliant producers.
If the producer isn’t participating in an approved plan, those batteries (or battery-containing products) simply can’t be sold in Washington.
Ecology’s final rule lays out a phased schedule so industry can adapt, depending on battery size and format.
Here’s the part retailers should bookmark:
Retailers may not sell covered portable batteries or battery-containing products unless the producer participates in an approved stewardship plan.
Think: AA batteries, button cells, power-bank packs — and the products that include them.
Retailers may not sell large-format batteries unless the producer participates in an approved plan.
These are typically used in EVs, backup storage, industrial systems, and similar applications.
Retailers may not sell medium-format batteries unless the producer participates in an approved plan.
These are often used in e-bikes, scooters, lawn equipment, and high-capacity tools.
This is where things can get confusing.
A compliant product isn’t necessarily “marked compliant” on the shelf. Instead:
If a product shows up in your assortment from an unregistered producer, it becomes unsellable in Washington, even if it's legal elsewhere.
And as with other EPR programs, enforcement risk typically increases once implementation begins — including potential penalties and inventory issues.
Batteries are one of the fastest-growing waste and fire risks in the solid waste stream.
Lithium-ion and other chemistries can:
Washington’s goal is to expand safe collection points, improve recycling, and reduce municipal burden — while keeping hazardous materials out of landfills.
Even though the first retail restriction doesn’t hit until 2027, waiting until then is how shelves get pulled overnight.
Here’s what smart teams are doing:
Identify everywhere batteries sneak in — not just standalone inventory.
Think: toys, flashlights, baby monitors, headphones, grooming tools, holiday decor, kitchen tools, mobility devices, and more.
Build workflows to confirm whether producers are participating in an approved plan before onboarding or extending products into Washington.
Ask explicit questions:
Create compliance checkpoints to prevent unsellable inventory from entering the WA market.
Programs like Washington’s battery EPR create state-specific compliance rules layered onto thousands of SKUs — many of which change over time.
Smarter Sorting helps retailers:
As Washington’s Department of Ecology publishes more guidance and approved producer lists, we’ll continue updating our coverage so retailers can stay ahead — not scramble later.
Washington’s battery stewardship rule is final — and the retail restrictions are real.
If the producer isn’t in an approved stewardship plan, the product cannot be sold in Washington.
Starting now means easier transitions, fewer compliance surprises, and less stranded inventory.
If you want help understanding how these rules intersect with your catalog, we’re happy to walk through it with you.