SB 5144, providing for responsible environmental management of batteries, passed the legislature in April and was signed into law on May 11, 2023. The law requires producers of covered batteries and battery-containing products to participate in a stewardship organization which plans and provides for battery collection and end-of-life management. Under current rules adopted by the Department of Ecology, businesses are allowed to manage most types of batteries as universal waste, which can have dangerous consequences for MRFs and other waste management facilities. This law contains all the elements of a successful program, including fees that incentivize environmental performance of covered batteries, performance goals, and state-wide convenience standards.