Bill > S572

This bill aims to save recycling costs in the commonwealth by establishing a producer responsibility program for packaging and paper products. The key provisions include: 1. Requiring producers of covered materials sold or distributed in the commonwealth to form one or more producer responsibility organizations to develop and implement a plan to assess and collect payments from producers based on the type and weight of packaging material sold, and to reimburse participating municipalities for certain recycling and waste management costs. 2. Defining key terms such as "covered materials," "producer," "producer responsibility organization," and "readily-recycled," and establishing requirements for the producer responsibility plan, including funding mechanisms, consumer education and outreach, and achievement of recycling and post-consumer recycled content goals. 3. Allowing producers to develop and operate alternative collection programs subject to department approval, and providing for producer payments and reporting requirements related to such programs. 4. Establishing a sustainable packaging trust fund to cover department administrative and enforcement costs related to the program, and allowing for use of penalty funds collected to support related business and infrastructure grants. 5. Prohibiting the sale of covered materials by non-compliant producers and establishing enforcement mechanisms and penalties for violations.