03/25/2026
IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED: Contact your Minnesota state legislators in St. Paul TODAY. Send an email now or call before 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Use the Main Message below and supplement it with 2-3 talking points (scroll down for regular & faith talking points). Putting it in your own words makes it more impactful, especially if you can talk about what this would mean for your community. [Who Represents Me: https://gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/]
MAIN MESSAGE TO SHARE WITH MN LEGISLATORS:
Please support SF 1690/ HF 1426, and encourage your colleagues on the Senate Commerce Committee and House Environment Committee to support the new battery collection and recycling language, which will replace the current electronic waste language. This will require battery manufacturers to fund safe, accessible collection across Minnesota and ensure responsible stewardship of battery waste.
POSSIBLE TALKING POINTS
•This is a practical, bipartisan opportunity to protects public health and saves money.
•Battery waste is a growing problem, and Minnesota’s current system is not equipped to handle it safely.
•Most batteries are still thrown in the trash instead of being properly recycled.
•Discarded batteries are causing weekly landfill fires across the state.
•These fires are dangerous for waste workers and first responders.
•Waste fires release toxic pollution that harms air, water, and soil.
•The 2023 Rice County landfill fire burned for a week and impacted thousands of residents.
•Minnesota taxpayers currently bear the cost of battery recycling through taxes and fees.
•The new language in SF 1690 / HF 1426 will shift the financial responsibility to battery manufacturers.
•The legislation would make battery recycling free and convenient for all Minnesotans.
•It would significantly expand the number of battery drop-off locations statewide.
•The bill requires clear, consistent public education about battery recycling.
•Batteries contain valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel that should be recovered, not wasted.
•Currently, billions of dollars’ worth of reusable metals are lost to landfills and incinerators.
•Responsible recycling supports Minnesota’s clean energy and sustainability goals.
FAITH-BASED TALKING POINTS
•Caring for creation is a core Christian calling and this policy helps protect the earth from harmful pollution.
•Preventing toxic fires and pollution is part of loving our neighbors, especially those most vulnerable to harm from air or soil pollution.
•Stewardship means using resources wisely. Recycling valuable materials honors that responsibility.
•Protecting workers from dangerous conditions reflects a commitment to dignity and justice.
•Reducing waste and pollution aligns with a moral responsibility to future generations.
