Every year, the Maryland General Assembly considers upwards of 2,500 bills of which as many as 700 or more may become law. And all this happens during a 90 day session! MRN advocates on behalf of the Maryland recycling community to ensure that legislative initiatives achieve their stated goals in a cost- and time-effective manner without creating unintended consequences that hobble our mission to promote a healthy, sustainable environment. If you’re not a member, please support our efforts by joining today. Click here to see membership options.
Note: MRN organized a recycling presentation and tour on May 30 for the MD House Environment and Transportation Committee at the Baltimore County Central Acceptance Facility in Cockeysville. This presentation represents one of many steps MRN takes to ensure our elected officials are well-informed regarding the realities of operating recycling programs in the state.
2017 Legislative Update: Here are relevant bills considered in 2017.
HB0124 – Solid Waste and Recycling Facilities: Requiring the Department of the Environment to adopt specified regulations relating to recycling facilities, including conditions for specified permit exemptions; providing that specified enforcement provisions apply to specified violations; requiring the Department to convene and consult with a workgroup of affected stakeholders in developing specified regulations; and requiring the workgroup to include representatives of specified entities.
MRN Position: Support
Status: Passed; Approved by the Governor - Chapter 376
HB 1070 – End-of-Life Management of Mattresses – Study: Requiring the Department of the Environment to study, identify, and make recommendations regarding specified matters that relate to the end-of-life management of mattresses in the State; requiring the Department to consult with specified State agencies and specified persons in carrying out specified activities; and requiring the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and to specified committees of the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2017.
MRN Position: Support
Status – Unfavorable Report by Environment and Transportation; Withdrawn
HB 1309 – Recycling – Special Events (Cross filed with SB 885): Altering the application of specified provisions of law relating to recycling at special events; requiring a county, a municipality, or any other local government to provide to an organizer of a special event a written statement that describes specified requirements and penalties before issuing a permit for the special event; requiring a county, a municipality, or any other local government to enforce specified provisions of law relating to recycling at a special event; and altering specified penalties.
MRN Position: Oppose
Status – Passed; Enacted under Article II, Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution - Chapter 832
HB 1349 – Compostable, Degradable, and Biodegradable Plastic Products – Labeling: Prohibiting a person from selling a specified plastic product that is labeled as biodegradable, degradable, or decomposable on or after October 1, 2018, subject to a specified exception; prohibiting a person from selling a specified plastic product labeled as compostable, marine degradable, or home compostable on or after October 1, 2018, unless the plastic product meets specified standards; establishing specified penalties; providing for the disposition of specified penalties collected under the Act; etc.
Status – Passed; Approved by the Governor - Chapter 374
HB 1572 – Prince George’s County – Authority to Prohibit the Use of Disposable Bags: Authorizing Prince George’s County to enact a law that prohibits specified retail establishments from using disposable bags as part of a retail sale of products; and defining “disposable bag” as a paper or plastic bag provided by a store to a customer at the point of sale.
Status – Unfavorable Report by House Rules and Executive Nominations; Withdrawn
SB 0099 – Yard Waste and Food Residuals Diversion and Infrastructure – Study (Cross-filed with HB 0171): Requiring the Department of the Environment, in consultation with specified persons, to study, review, explore, identify, and make recommendations regarding specified matters that relate to the diversion of yard waste from refuse disposal facilities, including specified infrastructure; requiring the Department to provide an interim report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before July 1, 2018 and to report its final findings and recommendations by July 1, 2019; etc.
MRN Position: Support
Status: Passed; Approved by the Governor - Chapter 383
SB 0168 – Maryland Paint Stewardship Program (Cross-filed with HB 0674): Requiring specified producers or a representative organization to submit a plan for the establishment of a Paint Stewardship Program to the Department of the Environment on or before January 1, 2018, and in accordance with specified requirements; requiring the Department to review and approve specified plans, including a specified assessment, submitted in accordance with the Paint Stewardship Program; prohibiting the sale of specified architectural paint under specified circumstances beginning July 1, 2018; etc.
MRN Position – Support with Amendment
Status: In the House – Unfavorable Report by Environment and Transportation; Withdrawn
SB 0186 – Polystyrene Food Service Products and Polystyrene Loose Fill Packaging – Prohibition on Sale (Cross-filed with HB 0229): Prohibiting a person from selling in the State specified expanded polystyrene food service products or expanded polystyrene loose fill packaging on or after January 1, 2018; prohibiting specified food service businesses from selling or providing food in specified expanded polystyrene food service products on or after January 1, 2018; authorizing a county health department to impose specified penalties for violations of the Act; requiring a county health department to notify the Department of specified violations; etc.
Status – Stalled in Committee
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