State Recycling-Related Bills
Below we have summarized some of the most important recent recycling and waste legislation that has been passed, state by state:
State |
Bill |
Category |
Breakdown of the Bill |
Colorado | HB 1162 | Plastics ban | Bans single-use plastic bags at most stores and EPS takeout containers at most restaurants. |
Connecticut | SB 928 | Minimum recycled content | Directs the department of Energy and Environmental Protection to create a plan to implement a minimum recycled content policy. |
Connecticut | SB1037 | Bottles bill | Doubles deposit value to 10 cents and expands types of containers accepted. |
Louisiana | SB 97 | Chemical recycling | Classifies advanced recycling as a manufacturing process rather than solid waste management. |
Maine | LD 1541 | EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) | Covers most types of consumer packaging.
Producers will pay into a stewardship organization; local governments could use funds for packaging management costs. |
Maryland | HB 0164 | Market development | Encourages businesses and state agencies to develop markets for recycled materials and products. |
Maryland | HB 264 | Organics diversion | Requires covered entities generating at least two tons of organic waste per week to arrange for disposal alternatives – such as reduction, donation, animal feed, composting or anaerobic digestion – by January 2023. The threshold expands to generators of one ton per week in 2024. |
Oregon | SB 582 | EPR | The law establishes a packaging EPR program by 2025. It also calls for other updates such as a standardized material list and a labeling task force meant to evaluate items’ recyclability. |
Rhode Island | H 5923 | Incineration | Restricts “high heat” medical waste processing facilities. |
Rhode Island | S 0155 | Plastics ban | Restricts the use of single-use straws in food service establishments. |
Virginia | SB 1164 | Plastics ban / chemicals recycling | Classifies advanced recycling as a manufacturing process rather than solid waste management / Bans EPS foam foodservice containers. |
Washington | SB 5022 | Plastics ban / PCR | Increases the requirement for minimum % recycled content in packaging, bans some types of EPS containers and makes single-use foodservice ware only available on request. |