SUSTAINABLE BELMONT: FUTURE OF MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
C
Circular Economy
PAINT STEWARDSHIP SYSTEM
H.823, S.551, & S.542
A point-of-sale fee of less than $1 per gallon is collected by all paint retailers. The collected funds are managed by a non-profit producer responsibility organization, which represents paint manufacturers. Funds are used to establish paint collection sites, transport paint for processing, & distribute public education materials on proper management of paint.
SAVES MUNI’S $$, UNIVERSAL RECYCLING, PROTECTS ENV.
MATTRESS STEWARDSHIP SYSTEM
Example: H.881
Companies that sell mattresses in Mass will be required to collect a fee to pay for the recycling of mattresses at the end of their life. The collected funds are used to pay local governments (or private haulers) to operate mattress collection sites for MA residents. Product stewardship would save taxpayers $10 million per year, alleviate the burden on municipal employees, & reduce dumping.
Packaging & Paper Products
S.471
Companies that sell plastic, metal, & glass containers & printed paper, including cardboard required to pay to recycle their products. More than 40 countries have product stewardship laws for containers & packaging materials. 4 states (ME, OR, CA, CO) passed the first US laws for packaging since 2021.
The companies form a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), to coordinate, fund, & manage a statewide recycling system.
Companies pay fees to the PRO based on the amount & type of material they sell. The PRO uses these $$ to reimburse local governments (or private haulers) to operate convenient recycling programs for residents & other entities.
MassDEP oversees the PRO, with input from a stakeholder advisory committee.
The PRO covers 100% of the costs of recycling, including consumer education & government oversight
Saves $$; improves design; free universal recycling; climate benefits