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Fourteen states finished their legislative sessions in March, and 11 more will adjourn before the end of April. ReMA is already tracking more than 840 bills and regulations that could impact the recycling industry, and last-minute substitute amendments could pull the industry into completely unrelated legislation as policymakers fight to get their proposals passed.
Why this matters: Bills and regulations targeting metals theft, vehicle detitling and dismantling, product stewardship, and other commodities and issues can directly change how your business operates. In worst-case scenarios, legislation could even make it impossible for recyclers to stay in business.
Auxiliary Containers
Bills regulating paper and plastic bags and other containers and packaging are a growing trend in state legislatures, and are increasingly gathered into general bills impacting all "auxiliary containers." While these were (and still are) predominantly bills seeking to impose bans and/or fees on bags and other containers, such bills have failed to gain much traction at the state level. Instead, bills prohibiting local regulations on auxiliary containers, while fewer in number, are actively being considered and passed by many states.
Synthetic Turf
While some legislatures continue to target synthetic turf and other recycled rubber products, the numerous studies indicating no significant risk to athletes and a Council of State Governments’ (CSG) resolution noting that scientific evidence should be paramount when assessing recycled rubber play surfaces are starting to have a noticeable effect on the debate.
Materials Theft
ISRI's efforts to work with law enforcement and policymakers to combat materials theft through policy and community action are having a marked impact on state legislation.
…Some specifically include vehicles in their metals theft laws
…Some exclude vehicles
…Some have a mix between the metals theft and motor vehicle statutes with more or less clarity for businesses trying to comply.
Industry supported bills such as Wisconsin SB 246 would bring clarity to this problem.
Extended Producer Responsibility
While not as prevalent as in some recent sessions, ReMA is tracking several Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)/product stewardship bills that could impact recyclers, and more can be expected as the session continues.
Bottom line: ReMA members need to be involved with their policymakers on the federal, state, and local levels to ensure the scrap recycling industry can continue to operate without excessive statutory and regulatory burdens.
Go deeper: If you would like to find out what changes could impact your company, visit ISRI's State Policy page or contact Danielle Waterfield if you have any questions about the system or legislation impacting your state. ReMA has also added summaries of ISRI's Positions to the State Policy page as well as legislative and regulatory reports to the State Resources and Tracking pages to make keeping up-to-date in your state easier.