Bill > H2880

This bill aims to improve recycling in the Commonwealth by establishing a Municipal Recycling Enhancement Fund, which will be financed by a 1-cent recycling fee on all beverages sold in beverage containers, effective July 1, 2015. This fee will be levied on distributor/wholesalers, who are businesses that sell beverages in containers to retailers, with exemptions for beverages intended for sale outside the Commonwealth. The fund will be managed by the Solid Waste Management Board and will allocate up to 80% of its resources to recycling collection programs, such as municipal grants for recycling equipment and public education campaigns, and up to 20% to litter prevention and removal programs. The bill also mandates the inclusion of recycling opportunities in new and redesigned public reservations and requires state agencies to report annually on their efforts to promote recycling at public facilities visited by at least 5,000 people annually. Additionally, it repeals several existing sections of Chapter 94 of the General Laws related to beverage container recycling and amends others to align with the new fee structure and fund.