Effective July 1, 2027, for portable batteries and July 1, 2029, for medium format batteries, or the first date on which an approved plan begins to be implemented under this chapter by a battery stewardship organization, whichever comes first:

(1) All persons must dispose of unwanted covered batteries through one of the following disposal options:

(a) Disposal using the collection sites established by or included in the programs created by this chapter;

(b) For covered batteries generated by persons that are regulated generators of covered batteries under federal or state hazardous or solid waste laws, disposal in a manner consistent with the requirements of those laws; or

(c) Disposal using local government collection facilities that collect batteries consistent with RCW 70A.555.070(4)(c).

(2)(a) A fee may not be charged at the time unwanted covered batteries are delivered or collected for management.

(b) All covered batteries may only be collected, transported, and processed in a manner that meets the standards established for a battery stewardship organization in a plan approved by the department, unless the batteries are being managed as described in subsection (1)(b) of this section.

(3) A person may not place covered batteries in waste containers for disposal at incinerators, waste to energy facilities, or landfills.

(4) A person may not place covered batteries in or on a container for mixed recyclables unless there is a separate location or compartment for the covered battery that complies with local government collection standards or guidelines.

(5) An owner or operator of a solid waste facility may not be found in violation of this section if the facility has posted in a conspicuous location a sign stating that covered batteries must be managed through collection sites established by a battery stewardship organization and are not accepted for disposal.

(6) A solid waste collector may not be found in violation of this section for a covered battery placed in a disposal container by the generator of the covered battery.