Colorado Lawmakers Push Free EV Battery Recycling Law

Colorado lawmakers are writing a new chapter in electric vehicle sustainability, and it won't cost drivers a single extra dollar.

State legislators are pushing forward a law that would require car manufacturers to recycle electric vehicle batteries completely free to consumers. The move addresses one of the biggest environmental questions surrounding EVs: what happens when those massive batteries reach the end of their life?

Senator Katie Wallace says the law ensures electric cars sold in Colorado stay responsible from the showroom to the recycling plant. Right now, EV batteries require mining lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which creates a larger carbon footprint than building a traditional gas car.

Under the proposed law, manufacturers get to choose their path. They can either recycle the batteries themselves or hire another company to handle the job, with full requirements taking effect August 1, 2028.

Colorado isn't just talking the talk. The state has nearly 211,000 electric vehicles registered and briefly surpassed even California's EV market share at the end of 2024.

The environmental math gets exciting fast. Research from the Union of Concerned Scientists shows proper battery recycling could slash the need for newly mined minerals by nearly 50% between 2025 and 2050.

The Ripple Effect

This law does more than protect the planet. It keeps batteries that can catch fire out of landfills, reduces America's dependence on imported minerals, and creates an entirely new local industry.

Colorado already requires companies making aluminum cans and paper to pay for recycling those materials. Last year, Governor Jared Polis signed a similar law for smaller batteries in electronics, building momentum for this larger initiative.

New Jersey became the first state to require EV battery recycling in 2024. California passed a similar law the same year, though Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed it in favor of a market-based approach.

If approved, Colorado would join the frontier of states turning electric vehicles into a truly circular economy. Battery management and recycling jobs would grow across the state, strengthening local economies while protecting the environment.

Every recycled battery means fewer mountains mined, safer communities, and more opportunities for workers right here at home.