The Oregon State Legislature has passed a new recycling law aimed at protecting people and the environment from the dangers of improper battery disposal, according to a March 11 announcement. House Bill 4144 requires battery manufacturers to fund and manage a statewide battery recycling program set to launch in 2029.
The new law is significant because it addresses the growing problem of fires caused by batteries discarded in regular trash. These fires can endanger workers and cause costly damage at waste facilities across Oregon.
Under the legislation, manufacturers will be responsible for ensuring that accessible drop-off locations for battery recycling are available throughout the state. The law also prohibits throwing batteries in the trash, an effort designed to prevent fires in garbage trucks and waste facilities. In 2025 alone, Metro’s two transfer stations experienced 61 fires—58 of which were linked to batteries mixed with garbage—while Lane County reported 56 similar incidents at Short Mountain Landfill.
“Metro is proud to have helped lead an effort that resulted in such an unprecedented level of cooperation across local governments, waste companies and environmental organizations,” said Metro Councilor Duncan Hwang. “Battery-related fires are not endemic to a single community, city or region. And they don’t discriminate between the public and private sector. They put all of us in very real danger and threaten irreparable damage to the environment, which is what brought so many different groups together to address this critical issue on a statewide level.”
Lane County Waste Reduction Manager Angie Marzano said, “It has been refreshing to work with so many partners who hold the same values around safety and responsibility when it comes to battery disposal. This legislation is poised to create a system that safeguards people who work in the solid waste industry, customers, and the environment from the dangers posed by improper battery disposal.”
While Oregonians wait for the statewide program’s rollout in 2029, residents are encouraged to use existing resources for safe battery disposal. In greater Portland, batteries can be taken free of charge to Metro household hazardous waste facilities or other designated drop-off sites found through Metro’s Find a Recycler tool. Lane County residents can recycle various types of batteries at county transfer stations as well as select retail stores.
Metro serves more than 1.7 million people in greater Portland by managing regional garbage and recycling systems among other services. Waste Wise Lane County provides education and resources on sustainable living through its Waste Management Division.
