Bill > H8

This bill aims to reduce and better manage single-use waste in North Carolina through several key provisions. The legislation requires all state departments, institutions, agencies, community colleges, and local school administrative units to purchase and use materials with recycled or compostable content when economically feasible, with a focus on food establishments. The bill mandates annual reporting by these entities to the Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service of the Department of Environmental Quality, detailing the amounts and types of recyclable and compostable materials purchased and collected. Additionally, the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory is tasked with conducting a comprehensive study on food service ware, examining environmental impacts of plastic pollution, recycling requirements, recycling markets, and potential alternatives, with a report due to the 2026 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The bill also requires the Legislative Services Officer to evaluate and reduce food service ware usage in legislative facilities, and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to implement a pilot program eliminating single-use food service ware in five of its facilities. For the purposes of this bill, "food service ware" is defined as one-time-use products for serving or transporting food and beverages, excluding compostable or recyclable items. The legislation is accompanied by a $50,000 appropriation to support the Policy Collaboratory's study and is set to take effect when it becomes law, with the funding provision specifically effective July 1, 2025.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H8