Bill > SB342

This bill establishes the Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program, aiming to boost the reuse and recycling of beverage containers and decrease litter and pollution. Under this program, beverage producers must register with the Department of the Environment, pay a fee, and join a beverage container stewardship organization to sell, distribute, or import redeemable beverage containers into Maryland. The program sets specific redemption rate targets, including 70% by December 31, 2030, and 90% by December 31, 2033, and mandates that by January 1, 2029, beverage containers will have a 10-cent or 15-cent refund value depending on their size, with potential increases if redemption rates fall below 90%. It also outlines various redemption options for consumers, requires retailers to accept returns, and establishes a framework for beverage container stewardship organizations to manage the program, including collecting fees from producers and overseeing recycling efforts. The bill also includes provisions for a grant program administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust to fund projects that increase beverage container reuse and recycling, and to reduce litter, and mandates that the Department of the Environment assess the program's impact on local governments and report recommendations to the General Assembly.

Education

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0342?ys=2026RS