Bill > LD1423

This bill updates Maine's stewardship program for packaging by modifying several key definitions and requirements. The bill expands the definition of "consumer" to include various entities like residential buildings, schools, government facilities, and businesses that use waste management services, while excluding manufacturers handling their own packaging. It clarifies the definition of "producer" by establishing a detailed hierarchy of responsibility for identifying who is considered a producer of packaging material, which could be the manufacturer, brand owner, importer, or first distributor of a product. The bill introduces exemptions for producers based on their gross revenue (less than $2-5 million) and the amount of packaging material used, with a specific exemption for the first 15 tons of packaging for perishable food products. The legislation also requires the stewardship organization to provide the department with lists of participating and non-participating producers, and allows for the potential modification of producer payment schedules to better incentivize the use of recyclable packaging materials. Additionally, the bill modifies reporting requirements, such as removing the need to report using specific product UPCs, and ensures that producers are not penalized for packaging materials that cannot legally incorporate recycled content due to existing regulations.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1423&snum=132