Bill > A08195

This bill establishes an "extended producer responsibility" program for gas cylinders, meaning that the companies that manufacture and sell these cylinders will be responsible for their end-of-life management. By December 31, 2029, producers must submit a plan to the state's environmental department for a collection program that will handle discarded gas cylinders, ensuring they are reused or recycled rather than disposed of as solid waste, with a ban on such disposal taking effect January 1, 2031. The bill defines key terms like "producer" (anyone who manufactures or imports gas cylinders sold under their brand), "collection program" (a system for collecting, transporting, and managing discarded cylinders), and "consumer" (anyone who uses a gas cylinder). Producers will be responsible for the costs of these programs, which must include convenient collection sites for consumers and educational outreach, and are subject to increasing recycling rate targets over time. Retailers are prohibited from selling gas cylinders from producers not participating in an approved program. The bill also establishes a Gas Cylinders Stewardship Advisory Board to advise the environmental department on these plans and outlines penalties for non-compliance.