Larry Klein
Mayor
Richard Mehlinger
Vice Mayor
Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember
Murali Srinivasan
Councilmember
Linda Sell
Councilmember
Charlsie Chang
Councilmember
Eileen Le
Councilmember
September 15, 2026
T
he Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor of California
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
R
E: Assembly Bill 762 (Irwin): Disposable, battery-embedded vapor inhalation device: prohibition – REQUEST FOR SIGNATURE
D
ear Governor Newsom,
O
n behalf of the City of Sunnyvale, we respectfully request that you sign AB 762 into law. AB 762 addresses the significant environmental and public health risks posed by disposable, battery embedded vapor inhalation devices by prohibiting the manufacture, import, and sale of disposable nicotine vape devices in California. These products are designed for single use and contain lithium - ion batteries that are difficult to remove, making them hazardous at the end of their lifecycle as they end up in landfills , creating a rapidly growing landfill crisis, causing frequent, intense, difficult to extinguish fires at waste facilities. And as they are largely composed of rare Earth metals, as they erode, they release toxic metals like nickel, cobalt, and manganese into soil and water.
Sunnyvale, like many cities across California, is responsible for managing solid waste and protecting public health. The proliferation of disposable vape products has created new and costly challenges for our waste management systems. AB 762 will help reduce these burdens by preventing these hazardous products from entering the waste stream in the first place. The City of Sunnyvale’s support for AB 762 is grounded in adopted City Council Policy 3.2.4, including the City’s Zero Waste Strategic Plan, Environm ental Sustainability policies, and General Plan policies that prioritize waste reduction, pollution prevent ion, and the protection of public health and the environment.
These policies emphasize reducing hazardous materials in the waste stream, advancing product stewardship, and supporting upstream solutions that minimize environmental impacts before they occur. The City’s Climate Action Playbook further reinforces the importance of reducing lifecycle emissions and environmental harm associated with consumer products. AB 762 is consistent with these policy objectives by preventing hazardous, single-use electronic waste from entering the waste stream and promoting safer, more sustainable alternatives.
Attachment 19
The Honorable Gavin Newsom, Governor
September 15, 2026
California leads the U.S. in environmental stewardship and policy. AB 762 will add to that forward thinking body of policy by addressing a rapidly growing source of electronic and hazardous waste. By taking action now, the state can mitigate long- term environmental harm while supporting safer and more sustainable product alternatives.
For these reasons, the City of Sunnyvale respectfully urges you to sign AB 762 into law.
Thank you for your consideration of the City of Sunnyvale's position on this important legislation. Please do not hesitate to contact me or Ramana Chinnakotla, Director of Environmental Services at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Larry Klein
Mayor
cc: Assembly Member Patrick Ahrens
City Council
Tim Kirby, City Manager
Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Ramana Chinnakotla, Director of Environmental Services
Attachment 19