(a)  Any collection location or intermediate collection location that receives, or any person that transports, spent batteries, as defined in this article, is exempt from the requirements of this chapter concerning the receipt, storage, and transportation of hazardous waste if the batteries are subsequently sent from that collection location to a facility authorized to receive those batteries and all of the following conditions are met:

(1)  The collection location is either of the following:

(A)  The collection location does not store more than 600 pounds of batteries at any one time and no batteries are stored for longer than 180 days.

(B)  The collection location is operated, or is authorized to be operated, by a public agency as part of a curbside collection program, no batteries are stored for longer than 180 days, and the public agency has considered appropriate volume limits and other necessary precautions to protect the public health, safety, and the environment.

(2)  The batteries are stored and transferred in a manner which minimizes the possibility of fire, explosion, or any release of hazardous substances or hazardous waste constituents.

(3)  The collection location, transporter, and receiving facility retains a copy of the hazardous waste manifest or bill of lading used during transportation for a period of three years. If a bill of lading is used, the bill of lading shall have, at a minimum, all of the following information:

(A)  The name, address, and telephone number of the collection location, transporter, and receiving facility.

(B)  A general description and quantity of batteries.

(C)  The date of the transfer.

(D)  The signatures of the transporter and the collection location representative.

(4)  The batteries are not treated or reclaimed at any location exempted from the requirements of this chapter by this article.

(5)  Batteries which are received in accordance with subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) which are not subsequently recycled at the facility or transferred to a permitted recycling facility are transferred to a disposal facility authorized to accept such batteries.

(b)  A household hazardous waste collection facility, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 25218.1, may refuse to accept spent batteries if the volume of spent batteries delivered for receipt exceeds the facility’s storage capabilities. Such a facility may charge a fee to recover the handling, storage, and disposal costs of those spent batteries, which shall not exceed the facility’s handling, storage, and disposal costs.

(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 633, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1996.)