Florida Statute 403.7192 requires that manufacturers and marketers of rechargeable battery and rechargeable battery powered products sold in Florida implement a unit management system. The unit management system should clearly inform consumers of the disposal prohibition, ensure batteries and products are labeled to show electrolyte and disposal options, and provide a program to properly collect, transport, and recycle or dispose of the batteries and products (see the 1997 Memorandum or the Requirement Spreadsheet). If the manufacturers and marketers fail to comply they are not allowed to sell their batteries and products in Florida. Batteries and battery powered products subject to this requirement are limited to nickel-cadmium and small sealed lead-acid rechargeable batteries weighing less than 25 pounds and not used exclusively for memory backup, as well as mercuric oxide non-rechargeable batteries.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has contacted rechargeable battery and battery product manufacturers several times over a three year period regarding compliance with the law. On October 4, 2000 the corporate headquarters of rechargeable batteries and rechargeable products retailers received a letter from the Department recognizing the nearly 400 rechargeable battery manufacturers and marketers that have complied with Florida's requirements and identifying those 30-40 companies that have not yet complied or contacted the Department about their status.

The companies have complied with either their own unit management programs or have elected to comply as part of a national collection and recycling program funded and run by the rechargeable battery industry's nonprofit Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC). The RBRC program currently maintains more than 1,800 collection sites in Florida with more than 20,000 nationwide and in Canada at most businesses that sell rechargeable batteries and products. Nearly 30% of rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries discarded annually in Florida are recycled through RBRC collection sites. In January of 2001, RBRC will begin accepting three other major types of rechargeable batteries at established collections sites: sealed lead acid, nickel metal hydride, and lithium ion.