Starting in July 2025, lithium-ion batteries and a handful of other electronic devices will be banned from disposal in landfills, composting facilities and incinerators in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu in mid-August signed HB 1386, which also bans the disposal of wireless telephones, printers, copiers, fax machines and computer accessories in landfills or incinerators.
Supporters of the bills pointed to the fire risk that lithium-ion batteries pose, which has been rising in recent years as more and more everyday items contain the batteries.
In a February comment letter on the law, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services said that “lithium-ion batteries have become ubiquitous in consumer devices including laptops, mobile phones, power tools, household appliances, and toys (just to name a few examples). Disposal of such batteries in landfills and incinerators is not only a waste of precious resources, but also presents serious safety hazards.”
Under the state’s current law, disposing of wet-cell batteries was already prohibited, along with video display devices, central processing units of computers and video display media recorders/players.
HB 1386 also directs disposal facilities to take steps to prevent illegal disposal of batteries and electronics, including putting up informational signs and offering educational materials on how to recycle them instead.
