Key Takeaways:
➡ SB 901 EPR for Packaging and Paper Products passed on the last day and requires producers to manage packaging recycling. The law includes provisions for local control and reimbursement mechanisms.
➡ HB 83 Tire Recycling Fee was rolled into a separate bill and will increase the fee from 80 cents to $1 per tire, with adjustments based on CPI and capping at $2.
➡ Legislation regarding updating food waste definitions and requiring water bottle filling stations in new construction passed easily.
MRN will continue to work on future legislation including battery, electronics, and mattress EPR bills.
Key Highlights:
Game-Changing EPR for Packaging and Paper: The big news of the session was the passage of
SB 901 establishing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging and paper products. This landmark legislation shifts responsibility for managing the recycling of these materials to the producers themselves. The law includes important provisions ensuring local governments and private service operators retain control over their recycling streams and have mechanisms for cost reimbursement. The bill requires the establishment of a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), which must submit implementation plans for review and approval by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) by July 1, 2028.
MRN played a central role in shaping this landmark legislation by working with the bill’s sponsor, Senator Malcolm Augustine, and other stakeholders, as well as participating in the EPR Needs Assessment Advisory Council, which was established in 2023 under SB0222
(read the council report here).
Tire Recycling Fee Adjustment Rolled into Separate Bill: HB 83 did not officially pass, but the concept was rolled into the
2025 Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA). Starting January 1, 2026, the fee will rise from 80 cents to $1 per new tire purchased and will be subject to Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustments, with a maximum cap of $2. These funds go to the State Use Tire Cleanup and Recycling Fund, administered by MDE. However, an amendment in BRFA allows up to $1 million from this fund to be transferred to the state's general fund by June 30, 2026.
MRN will continue to work with the bill sponsor as well as other stakeholders as part of MRN’s informal tire workgroup to ensure best practices in tire management as this change is implemented.
*Note: A separate $5 consumer tire fee was added to BRFA, which goes to the Transportation Trust Fund for road and bridge projects and roadside cleanup, is intended to offset declining fuel tax revenues.
Two Waste Reduction Bills Make the Cut: Food System Resiliency Council (
HB 9) and Water Bottle Filling Stations (
HB 277 /
SB 96) both passed with little opposition. HB 9 updates existing legislation by defining "healthy food priority areas" as lower-income areas with limited access to retailers selling good food, and "wasted food" as food not used for its intended purpose. HB 277 requires construction or renovations needing a drinking fountain to include a bottle-filling feature.
Looking Ahead: Battery, Electronics, and Mattresses on the Horizon: MRN is already looking towards future legislative efforts, including a continued push for EPR initiatives on batteries, electronics, and mattresses. These initiatives signal a continued push towards a more circular economy in Maryland. Further discussion touched on areas of interest, including advocating for post-consumer recycled content, the challenges surrounding a beverage container deposit bill, and the potential for a right-to-repair law.
Stay tuned for more updates on our
Legislative/Regulatory page and in your inbox as these legislative changes and initiatives move forward!
*Be sure to check out the
2025 Legislative Session Recap for more on recycling initiatives we supported/opposed this year, including statements and links to testimonies.