Bill > B26-0058

This bill establishes an extended producer responsibility collection and recycling program for beverage containers in the District of Columbia, to be implemented by January 1, 2028. The program requires distributors to place a deposit of at least $0.10 on each beverage container sold in the District, with the potential for the deposit to increase to $0.15 if redemption targets are not met. Distributors must register with the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and join a beverage container stewardship organization that will manage the collection, redemption, and recycling of these containers. The bill creates detailed requirements for the stewardship organization, including developing a comprehensive plan for container collection, establishing redemption facilities, and meeting specific performance targets of 75% redemption rate by 2028, increasing to 95% by 2034. Retailers will be required to accept returned containers and provide refunds, and a handling fee of $0.04 per container will be paid to those accepting returns. The program also establishes a District Recycling Fund to manage unclaimed deposits and support related environmental initiatives. Distributors who fail to meet redemption targets may face administrative penalties, and the bill includes provisions to prevent fraudulent redemption of containers.

Business and Industry

https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0058