Colorado’s new battery recycling bill is a start, but communities still need more protection

Colorado’s recently passed battery recycling law defines producer responsibility for end-of-life electric vehicle batteries. And California’s SB 615 may soon follow in a state committed to addressing the problem of large-format battery waste.

These laws are an important step toward collecting waste and aiming to recover valuable minerals. But without stronger environmental transparency, disclosure and accountability requirements for battery recycling facilities, they fall short of protecting the workers and communities that will bear …