Bill > S610

This bill re-establishes the Clean Environment Fund (CEF), a dedicated fund that will receive 40% of the monies collected from deposit amounts on abandoned beverage containers. The fund will be administered by the Secretary of Energy and the Environment and has specific spending requirements: at least 60% of the annual funds must support state and municipal waste reduction, recycling, littering, and composting programs. These programs include municipal recycling initiatives, grants for waste recycling equipment, school composting programs, commercial recycling efforts, litter cleanup grants, and innovative waste reduction initiatives. The remaining funds will be used for improvements to state parks, state forest recreation areas, and state reservations, with a requirement to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building standards. Additionally, the bill mandates that unspent funds will not revert to the General Fund but remain available in subsequent fiscal years, and requires an annual report detailing fund deposits and expenditures. The bill also directs the commissioner to establish a program promoting recycling and reducing litter in state parks and recreational areas, ensuring these spaces have recycling infrastructure when feasible.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S610