Bill textDelegates McIntosh, Olszewski, Bobo, Carr, Cullison, Frush, Hammen, Hucker, Kaiser, A. Kelly, Love, A. Miller, Morhaim, Reznik, S. Robinson, M. Washington, and Zucker
Maryland is taking a new direction in 2013, with a deposit-refund campaign led not by grassroots activists, but an industry consortium. Owens-Illinois (glass) and Alcoa (aluminum) are the driving force between the 2013 refund bill, supported by a number of environmental organizations including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Maryland League of Conservation Voters, Abell Foundation, Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland, National Aquarium in Baltimore, Alice Ferguson Foundation, Blue Water Baltimore and the Anacostia Watershed Society. The Recycle for Real bill is reported to be backed by
| Bill Number and Name | SB 0641 / HB 1085 Bill text |
|---|---|
| Sponsors | Senators Frosh, Ferguson, Madaleno, Manno, Montgomery, Pinsky, and Raskin Delegates McIntosh, Olszewski, Bobo, Carr, Cullison, Frush, Hammen, Hucker, Kaiser, A. Kelly, Love, A. Miller, Morhaim, Reznik, S. Robinson, M. Washington, and Zucker |
| Beverages Covered | Beer, malt, most nonalcoholic beverages. Excludes milk, syrups, supplements, frozen drinks |
| Containers Covered | All sealed metal, glass, or plastic containers 6-33.8 oz. in volume. Excludes refillables. |
| Deposits | 5¢ |
| Handling Fees | .025¢–3¢, paid by state to redemption centers |
| Other Fees / Taxes | |
| Reclamation System | Redemption centers |
| Unredeemed Deposits | Remain property of the state |
This bill establishes the Statewide Container Recycling Incentive Program.
Under the program, beverage distributors must register with the state.
Distributors pay deposit to the state when they sell a container, and these deposits are placed in a Container Recycling Incentive Fund. In turn, the distributors collect deposits from retailers, and retailers collect them from consumers. Refillable beverage containers with a refund value of more than 5¢ are excluded.
Refunds are paid back at redemption centers, which are obligated to recycle or send for recycling all the containers collected. Redemption centers are paid the refund value from the state fund, as well as a per-container handling fee.
The handling fee varies depending on who operates the redemption center. If it is a private entity, the fee is .025¢. If it is a county or municipality, it starts at 3¢ and is reduced to 2.5¢ after the center has been in operation 3 years.
Other uses of the fund include financing recycling and environmental programs.
Sets a goal of 75% recycling rate for redeemable beverage containers by 2019.
February 1, 2013 Senate Bill: First Reading Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs and Finance
February 8, 2013 House Bill First Reading Environmental Matters and Economic Matters
February 12, 2013 House Bill: Public hearing announced for March 8.