(a) No person shall knowingly place or dispose of a used lead-acid battery in a landfill, incinerator, or in any waste-to-energy facility.  Any person may deliver a lead-acid battery to a battery retailer or wholesaler, or to a secondary lead smelter, or to a collection or recycling facility authorized under this Chapter or by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

(b) No battery retailer shall knowingly place or dispose of a used lead-acid battery in a landfill, incinerator, or waste-to-energy facility. Any battery retailer may deliver a used lead-acid battery to the agent of a battery wholesaler or a secondary lead smelter, to a battery manufacturer for delivery to a secondary lead smelter, or to a collection or recycling facility authorized under this Chapter or by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

(c) Any person who knowingly places or disposes of a lead-acid battery in violation of this section shall be assessed a civil penalty of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) per violation.  Each battery improperly disposed of shall constitute a separate violation.

The clear proceeds of civil penalties assessed pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-457.2 (1991, c. 375, s. 2; 1998-215, s. 56.)