Maine becomes first state to shift costs of recycling from taxpayers to companies
Maine becomes first state to shift costs of recycling from taxpayers to companies
By Frances Stead Sellers at the Washington Post
July 14, 2021|Updated yesterday at 7:04 a.m. EDT
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/maine-becomes-first-state-to-shift-costs-of-recycling-from-taxpayers-to-companies/2021/07/13/aa6fbe44-e416-11eb-8aa5-5662858b696e_story.html
"SNIP......
Maine became the first state in the nation to require companies that create consumer packaging to pay for the costs of recycling it when Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed a bill Tuesday establishing an “extended producer responsibility” program.
The legislation on EPR for packaging will charge large packaging producers for collecting and recycling cardboard boxes, plastic containers and other packaging materials, as well as for disposing of nonrecyclable packaging. The income generated will be used to support recycling efforts in local communities that have long relied on taxpayer dollars.
“This new law assures every Maine community that help with recycling and lowering the property tax burden is on the way,” the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Nicole Grohoski (D-Ellsworth), said in a statement.
Sarah Nichols, director of the Sustainable Maine Program at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, predicted that many other states will soon follow suit. Across the country, 10 states including New York and California have considered similar legislation this year. In Oregon, a bill establishing EPR for packaging awaits the signature of Democratic governor Kate Brown.
......SNIP"
= new reply since forum marked as read
