Bill > HB86

This bill establishes a Mattress Stewardship Program in Virginia, requiring mattress producers, retailers, and renovators (those who alter used mattresses for resale) to register with a certified mattress recycling organization, which will be a nonprofit entity formed by industry associations. This organization will develop and implement a plan for collecting, transporting, and recycling discarded mattresses, funded by a uniform "mattress recycling fee" added to the price of new or renovated mattresses at the point of sale. The plan must include details on how the program will operate, proposed fees, consumer education, and performance goals, and it requires approval from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The bill also mandates annual reporting by the recycling organization to the DEQ, detailing collection and recycling efforts, material recovery, and program effectiveness, with the DEQ overseeing compliance and ensuring fees cover program costs. Furthermore, the bill outlines the DEQ's powers and duties in regulating the program and establishes civil penalties for violations by producers, retailers, or the recycling organization, while also exempting certain program-related activities from antitrust laws.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB86