Bill > S06540

This bill establishes an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for designated products sold in New York. Key provisions include: - Requiring producers to implement collection programs for discarded covered products, with specific recycling rate goals and convenience standards for consumers. Producers must submit and implement a plan approved by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). - Prohibiting retailers, distributors, and wholesalers from selling covered products unless the producer is in compliance with the EPR program requirements. - Authorizing the DEC to designate additional products or product categories as "covered products" subject to the EPR program. - Creating an Extended Producer Responsibility Program Fund to collect fees and penalties from producers, which will be used by the DEC to administer and enforce the program. - Establishing enforcement mechanisms, including civil penalties, for violations of the EPR program requirements. The overall goal of the bill is to shift the responsibility and costs of managing discarded products from municipalities and taxpayers to the producers, in order to incentivize more environmentally-friendly product design and higher recycling rates.