Starting this year, California consumers will pay a 1.5% fee on all products with an embedded battery under a law that aims to curb the risk of battery fires and increase the recycling of lithium batteries. The surcharge, capped at $15, expands a recycling program that has been collecting computer monitors and TVs for two decades. Consumers will pay the fee when buying any product with an embedded battery, whether it's rechargeable or not. Under harsh conditions at recycling and waste facilities, lithium-ion batteries can catch fire and even explode. Supporters of the law say a small fee to fund proper collection is cheaper than fires that can cause millions of dollars in damages.
