DTSC Strengthens Environmental Protections for Ecobat Lead Recycling Facility

CA DTSC Newsroom

Published November 21st, 2025

Detected February 27th, 2026

Summary

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has issued strengthened 10-year operating and post-closure permits for the Ecobat lead recycling facility in Los Angeles County. The decision includes expanded environmental monitoring, facility upgrades, and increased financial accountability, following extensive community input.

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What changed

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has finalized strengthened operating and post-closure permits for Ecobat Resources California, Inc., a lead battery recycling facility. These permits, effective after December 29, 2025, if not appealed, include new conditions such as installing a community air monitor, implementing a soil sampling plan, updating human health risk assessments, repairing facility infrastructure, holding annual public meetings on environmental data, and maintaining over $50 million in financial assurances. These changes aim to enhance environmental monitoring and public health safeguards.

Regulated entities, particularly those in the lead recycling sector, should be aware of increased oversight and stricter permitting requirements. Ecobat Resources California, Inc. must comply with the new conditions within the permit terms. The public and Ecobat have until December 29, 2025, to appeal DTSC's decision. Failure to comply with the new permit conditions could result in enforcement actions by DTSC.

What to do next

Review new permit conditions for Ecobat Resources California, Inc.
Monitor public meetings and environmental data shared by Ecobat
Assess similar permitting requirements for other lead recycling facilities in California

Source document (simplified)

Newsroom

We tell DTSC’s story to keep the public informed

DTSC strengthens environmental protections for Ecobat lead recycling facility in L.A. County

Decision reflects extensive community input and increases oversight to protect residents

DATE: NOVEMBER 21, 2025

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The California Department of Toxic Substances Control has issued two strengthened 10-year permits for Ecobat Resources California, Inc., a lead battery recycling facility in the City of Industry. After considering community input, DTSC added permit conditions to both the Operating and Post-Closure Permits that expand environmental monitoring, require facility upgrades and increase financial accountability.

CONTACT:
Media Relations Office
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SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) today announced its final permit decision for Ecobat Resources California, Inc., requiring expanded oversight and community protections at the lead recycling facility in Los Angeles County.

DTSC added specific conditions in both the final Operating and Post-Closure permits to ensure long-term environmental and public health safeguards. Special conditions were determined following a 150-day public engagement process that included two public hearings and extensive stakeholder participation,

The public and Ecobat may appeal DTSC’s final decision to the Board of Environmental Safety by December 29, 2025. If no appeals are filed, the permit becomes effective on that date. Appeal information is available at the BES Facility Permit Appeals webpage.

Key Ecobat permit documents are available at our EnviroStor database.

Background

The final Ecobat Operating and Post Closure Permits establish 10-year terms and include the following requirements providing strengthened protections:

Air, soil, and groundwater protections: Ecobat must install a community air monitor near the facility, implement a soil sampling plan to study potential lead impacts and continue groundwater monitoring.
Public health safeguards: The company must update the Human Health Risk Assessment to ensure operations do not pose public health risks to the community.
Facility upgrades: Ecobat is required to repair floors, leak detection systems and storage tanks to improve safety.
Public transparency: Ecobat must hold annual public meetings to share environmental data, complaints and violations. This information is to be posted online.
Financial accountability: Ecobat must maintain over $50 million in financial assurances to cover cleanup or closure costs, ensuring taxpayers are not left with the burden. FOR GENERAL INQUIRIES: Contact the Department of Toxic Substances Control to report illegal handling, discharge, or disposal of hazardous waste, or other environmental concerns using the CalEPA Environmental Complaint System.

DTSC’s Mission is to protect California’s people, communities, and environment from toxic substances, to enhance economic vitality by restoring contaminated land, and to compel manufacturers to make safer consumer products.