Bill > S0766

This bill modifies Florida's waste management regulations by creating a new definition for "auxiliary containers" - which includes various types of bags, cups, bottles, and packaging made from materials like cloth, paper, plastic, cardboard, and glass - and establishes state-level preemption over their regulation. The bill removes previous requirements for the Department of Environmental Protection to review and update reports on recyclable materials, instead explicitly stating that regulation of auxiliary containers is now exclusively a state-level responsibility. Local governments are generally prohibited from creating rules about auxiliary containers, with a few specific exceptions: local governments can restrict glass containers on public beaches, the Division of Recreation and Parks can regulate containers within state parks, and local ordinances related to specific health and safety regulations remain permitted. The bill also makes some technical amendments to cross-references in existing waste management statutes, ensuring consistency with the new definitions and regulatory approach. These changes are designed to create a more uniform approach to waste management and container regulation across Florida, taking control away from individual municipalities and centralizing it at the state level. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/766