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House Environment and Transportation Committee votes in favor of HB0264 - Organics Recycling and Waste Diversion - Food Residuals - via Zoom on March 12, 2021. MRN provided testimony supporting this bill.

Legislative Advocates

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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 these 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. See below for recap of 2024 legislative activity. Click these links to view bills from prior years or Maryland's current recycling laws.

MRN Advocacy

 

The 2025 Maryland General Assembly will convene on January 8 - April 7, 2025. Check back this fall for updates on all MRN advocacy and other efforts.

9/6/2024 Update:

The Commission to Advance Lithium–Ion Battery Safety in Maryland (update): MRN president Kitty McIlroy will represent MRN and the recycling community on the Commission, established under HB468, will be convening in September and is tasked with studying and making legislative, regulatory, and other recommendations on advancing battery safety. The Commission must report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2025.

The Maryland Tire Law Workgroup: The inaugural meeting of the Workgroup is scheduled for Friday, November 1. The kick-off meeting, hosted by MRN, will include a presentation by MDE on the new tire regulations, an overview of MDE’s scrap tire program as well as recent efforts to combat illegal dumping. Also invited to the group are Regina Boyce and SWANA’s Public Policy Director Kristyn Oldendorf. Stay tuned for updates.

Maryland House Legislator Tour: On Monday, November 18, MRN and MDE will host members of the Maryland Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee for a Recycling 101 Presentation and Tour of the Montgomery County MRF and Recycling Drop-Off Center. The presentation and tour will highlight how the facility processes a wide variety of recyclables and address the major challenges this and other recycling programs throughout our state often face.


8/19/2024 Update: The Commission to Advance Lithium–Ion Battery Safety in Maryland, passed under HB468 this past session, will be convening in September 2024. MRN will be participating in the commission as a representative of the recycling and solid waste communities. Stay tuned for more information. 


2024 Legislative Recap:

*See Current Legislation for descriptions of bills we followed in 2024 as well as statements and actions where applicable.

This year’s 90-day session closed on April 8. While there were some disappointments (i.e., the Electronics Recycling and Mattress Stewardship did not move forward), there were also two major successes: The Maryland Paint Stewardship bill and the Lithium-Ion Battery Safety bill.  

A huge THANK YOU to Legislative Chair Chaz Miller and MRN President Kitty McIlroy for trucking down to Annapolis to testify on behalf of our community. And to all the members of the Legislative Committee and Board of Directors for your input, support and hard work.

Here's an update on what we supported, what passed and what barely saw the light of day.


If you have any comments or questions in the meanwhile, please don’t hesitate to contact us by reply by email or at (443) 741-8740.

2024 Session Legislation: Click on the respective title or icon to view more information on each bill (* after bill title indicates MRN has provided statements and/or testimonies; + after bill title indicates bills that have passed). You can also view and filter all legislation currently under consideration in the MD Senate and House. And view (by day/week/month, senate/house, etc.) the calendar of committee meetings and video archive of past meetings.

Accordion Widget
HB0001 / SB0325 Maryland Paint Stewardship*+
HB0001 / SB0325 Maryland Paint Stewardship*+

Requiring producers of architectural paint or a representative organization to submit a plan for the establishment of a Paint Stewardship Program to the Department of the Environment by July 1, 2025, and in accordance with certain requirements; requiring the Department to review and approve certain plans, including a certain assessment; prohibiting the sale of certain architectural paint beginning January 1, 2026 unless an approved Paint Stewardship Program has been implemented by certain producers; etc.


Cross-filed with: SB0325


MRN Response: Supports - Request for speedy action on Paint Stewardship legislation


Read full statements on HB1 & SB325


*View Chaz Miller's in-person testimony on SB325 & HB1


Final Status: Passed


View Current Status

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HB0163 / SB0056 Food Waste and Solid Waste Reduction - Grants, Fund, and Surcharge
HB0163 / SB0056 Food Waste and Solid Waste Reduction - Grants, Fund, and Surcharge

Establishing the On-Farm Organic Diversion and Composting Grant Program to award grants to eligible entities to assist with the costs of developing and implementing on-farm composting and compost use, food waste prevention, and food rescue projects; requiring the Department of the Environment to use funds from the Reduce, Recycle, Remanufacture Fund to support the Grant Program to Reduce and Compost School Waste; authorizing the Department to establish a statewide solid waste disposal surcharge; etc.


Cross-filed with: SB0056


View Current Status

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HB0166 / SB0146 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Eligible Sources - Alterations (Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2024)
HB0166 / SB0146 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Eligible Sources - Alterations (Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2024)

Altering the definition of "Tier 1 renewable source" for purposes of excluding energy derived from waste and refuse from being eligible for inclusion in the renewable energy portfolio standard; and applying the Act to all renewable energy portfolio standard compliance years starting on or after January 1, 2024.


Cross-filed with: SB0146


View Current Status

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HB0168 Environment - Plastic Products - Postconsumer Recycled Content Program*
HB0168 Environment - Plastic Products - Postconsumer Recycled Content Program*

Prohibiting certain producers of certain plastic products from selling, offering for sale, or distributing the products to any person in the State unless certain conditions are met; requiring certain producers of certain plastic products to, individually or as part of a representative organization, register and pay a certain annual registration fee to the Department of the Environment; establishing certain minimum postconsumer recycled content percentage requirements for certain products; etc.


MRN Position: Supports with suggested changes


Read full statement


*View Chaz Miller's in-person testimony


View Current Status

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HB0173 State Buildings and State Highways - Collection of Yard Waste*
HB0173 State Buildings and State Highways - Collection of Yard Waste*

Prohibiting a person from disposing of yard waste collected on the grounds of a State building or a State highway in a single-use plastic container; and requiring a person to collect yard waste on the grounds of a State building or a State highway in a container that will not be discarded with the yard waste or in a container that is compostable.


MRN Position: Supports with one amendment


Read full statement


View Current Status

Accordion Widget
HB0468 / SB0532 Commission to Advance Lithium–Ion Battery Safety in Maryland*+
HB0468 / SB0532 Commission to Advance Lithium–Ion Battery Safety in Maryland*+

Establishing the Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Maryland; and requiring the Commission to study and make legislative, regulatory, programmatic, and other recommendations and, on or before December 1, 2025, report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly.


Cross-filed with: SB0532


MRN Position: Supports


Read full statements on HB468 & SB532


*View Chaz Miller's in-person testimony on SB532

*View Kitty McIlroy's in-person testimony on HB468


Final Status: Passed


View Current Status

Accordion Widget
HB0457 Environment - Synthetic Turf - Chain of Custody+
HB0457 Environment - Synthetic Turf - Chain of Custody+

Requiring the Department of the Environment to establish a system to track the chain of custody of synthetic turf installed on sports and playing fields in the State; requiring the custodian of a synthetic turf sports or playing field installed in the State to report chain of custody information to the Department on or before January 1, 2025, or within 30 days after the completion of the installation, whichever is later; imposing an administrative penalty of up to $5,000 for a violation of the Act; etc.


Final State: Passed


View Current Status

Accordion Widget
HB0735 / SB0642 Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program*
HB0735 / SB0642 Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program*

Establishing the Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program to increase the reuse and recycling of beverage containers and reduce the litter, pollution, and costs associated with beverage containers; prohibiting a producer from selling, offering for sale, or distributing in or importing into the State a redeemable beverage container unless the producer is registered with the Department of the Environment, pays a certain fee, and is part of a certain stewardship organization; etc.


Cross-filed with: SB0642


MRN Response: Recommend holding until completion of Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment required by SB 222 (passed in 2023)


Read full statements on HB735 & SB642


View Chaz Miller's Testimonies on HB735 & SB642


View Current Status

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HB0830 / SB0686 Environment - Covered Electronic Devices Recycling Program - Establishment*
HB0830 / SB0686 Environment - Covered Electronic Devices Recycling Program - Establishment*

Establishing the Covered Electronic Device Recycling Program in the Department of the Environment; repealing certain provisions of law relating to existing covered electronic takeback programs; repealing a certain provision of law authorizing a county to address methods for the separate collection and recycling of covered electronic devices in a certain recycling plan; requiring a separate covered electronic device recycling account within the State Recycling Trust Fund; altering the uses of the Trust Fund; etc.


Cross-filed with: SB0686


MRN Position: Supports


Read full statement on HB830 & SB686


View Kitty McIlroy's in-person testimonies on SB686 & HB830


HB0830_SB0686-Covered Electronic Devices Recycling Program Fact Sheet


View Current Status

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HB0841 Environment - Plastic Bottle Waste Reduction - Water Bottle Filling Stations and Reporting
HB0841 Environment - Plastic Bottle Waste Reduction - Water Bottle Filling Stations and Reporting

Requiring that a water bottle filling station be installed in certain new construction beginning October 1, 2024; requiring the Department of the Environment to conduct a certain survey, gather certain data, and identify alternative methods for providing drinking water on or before October 1, 2025; and requiring the Department, on or before December 1, 2025, to submit the survey and alternative methods to the Governor and General Assembly.


View Current Status

Accordion Widget
HB1318 Solid Waste Disposal Surcharge and Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Fund and Grant Programs - Established
HB1318 Solid Waste Disposal Surcharge and Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Fund and Grant Programs - Established

Establishing the On-Farm Organics Diversion and Recycling Grant Program in the Department of Agriculture to award grants to eligible entities for on-farm organics recycling and compost use, wasted food prevention, and food rescue; establishing a solid waste disposal surcharge of $2 per ton of solid waste processed by a refuse disposal system for final disposal; establishing the Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Grant Program in the Department of the Environment; etc.


View Current Status

Accordion Widget
HB1355 Environment - Office of Recycling - Mattress Stewardship Program - Establishment*
HB1355 Environment - Office of Recycling - Mattress Stewardship Program - Establishment*

Prohibiting, on and after January 1, 2029, a person from disposing of a mattress in a landfill, subject to certain exceptions; prohibiting, on and after January 1, 2029, a person from disposing of a mattress in an incinerator, subject to a certain exception; requiring certain producers of mattresses sold at retail in the State or a certain representative organization to submit a plan for the establishment of a Mattress Stewardship Program in the Department of the Environment for approval on or before July 1, 2025; etc.


MRN Response: Supports with amendments


Read full statement


View Kitty McIlroy's in-person testimony.


View Current Status

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