California Proposes Expanding Safer Consumer Products Regulations Under SB 502
On June 6, 2025, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) issued a Notice of Proposed Action to amend the Safer Consumer Products (SCP) Regulations. These proposed amendments implement Senate Bill (SB) 502 and expand public access to DTSC’s regulatory process. Among other changes, the proposal creates a pathway for public petitions to result directly in regulatory action, bypassing the traditional Alternatives Analysis process.
U.S. EPA Memo Offers Direction on Lithium Battery Recycling—Essential to the Future Supply Chain for Battery Electric Vehicles
Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in a wide variety of applications, from medical devices to laptops — and now, increasingly, in electric vehicles (EVs). With the market for personal and commercial EVs growing, it is essential for U.S. manufacturers to have a secure, reliable supply chain of the critical minerals needed to produce EV batteries, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. Indeed, a recent study highlights the growing demand for these minerals — and the challenges the U.S. faces to meet this demand from mined sources.
