Maine has recently signed a “nationwide initiative” law requiring packaging manufacturers to pay for the recovery cost of paper and foam packaging materials.
Under the new law, the Maine Department of environmental protection will oversee the establishment of a fund paid by large paper, plastic and paperboard packaging manufacturers. Payments to the fund will depend on the quantity and type of packaging materials sold. The income from these funds will be used to compensate the municipal government for the cost of recycling these packaging materials. It is reported that in recent years, the cost of recycling these materials has soared, putting pressure on the US municipal budget.
Environmental groups praised the new law, saying it would transfer the cost of recycling to companies that produce waste.
Peter Blair, a lawyer at the Maine branch of the protection law foundation, said: “municipalities are paying too high treatment fees for deliberately manufacturing non recyclable polluting products. Now is the time for plastic manufacturers to pay the price for their products polluting our air, land and water. This law will eventually hold them accountable. “
According to environmental regulators, Maine consumers have been paying for 100% of the cost of recycled materials, estimated at more than $16 million a year.
The new law exempts small producers that produce less than one ton of waste a year or earn more than $2 million a year.
Packaging manufacturers strongly oppose this measure, believing that it will eventually increase recovery costs. The paper industry also opposes the proposal and believes that the current recycling system is working.
Patrick Strauch, executive director of Maine Forest Products Committee, said in his recent testimony against landfill: “the amount of paper recycled is twice that sent to landfill. For each ton of waste paper recycled, 3.3 cubic yards (about 2.5 cubic meters) of landfill space can be saved. Paper recycling helps to extend the service life of paper and paper-based packaging products, making it an integral part of the sustainable development of the industry. “
The Maine chamber of Commerce expressed concern that many manufacturers are still in the recovery phase of COVID-19′s economic impact, and that the implementation of the law may pass the cost on to consumers.
Post time: Aug-13-2021