Weekly Policy Pickup
July 23
At the end of last week, the bench trial portion of a court case over the constitutionality of Oregon’s packaging extended producer responsibility law closed after five days. In addition, several comment periods in California and Minnesota are closing soon.
And now, policy:
Bill Updates
At the federal level, HB 9615 was sent to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It would support the recycling and recovery of lithium-ion batteries at a national level by updating permit requirements.
At the federal level, HB 9617 was sent to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It directs the EPA to create a National Critical Mineral Recovery Strategy.
Rulemaking News
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) updated its packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) source reduction reporting guidance.
In California, Californians Against Waste and the National Stewardship Action Council released a statement on the recent SB 343 legal injunction, noting that the pause in enforcement “does not change the underlying challenge the law was designed to address: Californians and Americans deserve accurate information about what is and is not recyclable.”
In Minnesota, the comment period on its packaging EPR rulemaking closes July 24.
Program Updates
In California, public comments on Carpet America Recovery Effort’s (CARE) revised differential assessments plan amendment are due by Aug. 3.
In California, public comments on the proposed covered battery-embedded waste recycling fee of 1.5% with a $1 maximum cap are due by July 24.
In California, final regulations for changes to the state beverage container deposit refund system (DRS) were approved. The regulations incorporate bags in boxes, multi-layer pouches, and paperboard cartons for beverages into the existing program framework.
In Oregon, the bench trial over the constitutionality of the state’s packaging EPR law closed after five days of arguments before a judge. Judge Michael Simon set six questions to be addressed in post-trial briefs due on July 31 and said he would use those briefs to decide if more oral argument is needed. Packaging Dive reported on the wider implications of the case.
Hard-to-Categorize News
In Denver, Colorado, a city-wide waste reduction ordinance will go into effect Sept. 1 after years of delays. A 2022 public vote approved mandatory apartment and commercial recycling and composting, as well as other mandates, such as 50% recycling of construction and demolition debris.
–Marissa Heffernan