Bill > H0915

This bill establishes an extended producer responsibility program for beverage containers in Vermont, requiring manufacturers and distributors of covered beverage containers to join a "producer responsibility organization" (PRO) that will manage the collection and recycling of these containers. The bill amends existing laws to redefine "container" to include various materials like glass, aluminum, polyethylene terephthalate, and high-density polyethylene, while excluding carbonated beverage containers over three liters, and modifies deposit and handling fee structures, particularly for liquor bottles. It mandates that PROs develop and submit "stewardship plans" to the Secretary of Natural Resources, outlining how they will ensure convenient collection points across the state, fairly compensate redemption centers, educate consumers, and meet specific redemption rate goals, with audits to ensure compliance. The bill also includes provisions for public notice and comment on stewardship plans, establishes a Clean Water Fund that can receive unclaimed beverage container deposits, and creates a Waste Management Assistance Fund to provide grants for bottle bill implementation. Importantly, manufacturers and distributors of liquor are exempt from the PRO participation and stewardship plan requirements, though their containers have specific deposit and handling fee rules. The bill also requires reporting on recycling data and sets various effective dates for its provisions, with some sections taking effect as late as March 1, 2028.