11/01/2026
Automotive Repair and Smog Check News
New recycling fee for tire pressure monitoring sensors
Beginning January 1, 2026, Senate Bill 1215 expands California’s Electronic Waste Recycling Act to include products that contain non-removable, embedded batteries, including tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensors which contain small, sealed lithium batteries.
Recycling fee requirement
Under the law, a recycling fee of 1.5% of the retail price (capped at $15 per item) must be collected at the time of sale for battery-embedded products. The fee supports the safe collection and recycling of these products.
This requirement is like other state environmental fees that automotive businesses already collect—such as the California Tire Fee and the lead-acid battery fee—which are remitted to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA).
Requirements for tire dealers
Tire dealers must:
Collect the recycling fee from customers at the time of sale when selling TPMS sensors or other battery-embedded products
Remit the collected fees to CDTFA
