---
type: "LegalText"
title: "42 U.S.C. § 14321"
description: "Purpose"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
chapter_number: "137"
chapter_name: "MANAGEMENT OF RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES AND BATTERIES CONTAINING MERCURY"
section: "14321"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 14321"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc42@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s14321"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-42/usc42.xml"
source_hash: "7810379b8dd5856a71095e3688bdca2379cdb62a58624f08df92995851ab5e61"
raw_snapshot_hash: "644321055a08eb1f260a6a3e31ac157fa024756abf612a9fd6857e7e400cf24e"
text_hash: "0ab35cb7553d22012a995153a35e2ed5f32343c311f3e6a85e32a81cca9066a7"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 42 U.S.C. § 14321 - Purpose

## Text

The purpose of this subchapter is to facilitate the efficient recycling or proper disposal of used nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries, used small sealed lead-acid rechargeable batteries, other regulated batteries, and such rechargeable batteries in used consumer products, by—

(1) providing for uniform labeling requirements and streamlined regulatory requirements for regulated battery collection programs; and

(2) encouraging voluntary industry programs by eliminating barriers to funding the collection and recycling or proper disposal of used rechargeable batteries.

(Pub. L. 104–142, title I, § 102, May 13, 1996, 110 Stat. 1332.)