New Hampshire law bans landfill disposal of lithium-ion batteries

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has signed a bill banning lithium-ion batteries and some electronic waste from disposal at New Hampshire landfills and incinerators, the New Hampshire Bulletin reports. The law, H.B. 1386, is meant to stem a serious fire hazard.

“Lithium-ion batteries are problematic when they get disposed of in landfills because often heavy machinery is used to handle our trash,” says Regan Bissonnette, executive director of the Northeast Resource Recovery Association, an Epsom, New Hampshire-based recycling nonprofit. “And if a lithium-ion battery gets punctured, it is pretty flammable.”

In addition to lithium-ion batteries, the law adds to the list of electronic waste prohibited from disposal at the state’s landfills and incinerators. It will also create educational material around recycling.

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Sean P. Toomey, the state fire marshal, supported the measure and stressed the importance of educating citizens about battery safety.

Yard waste and wet-cell batteries, commonly used in cars, were already prohibited from disposal at landfills and incinerators under state law. Some electronic waste, including “video display devices, central processing units of computers and video display media recorders/players” were also prohibited under current law.

The new law, which goes into effect in July 2025, adds items to that list including lithium-ion batteries; wireless telephones; printers; copiers; fax machines; and computer accessories such as keyboards, mice, video cameras and speakers, external hard drives, memory storage devices and scanners.

The new law also requires owners and operators of disposal facilities to take steps to prevent the disposal of the batteries and electronics. That includes posting informational signs or providing written notice of the ban.

It also mandates owners and operators, municipalities and solid waste districts to issue educational materials on recycling these items and, if possible, provide recycling opportunities.