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This bill would
establish standards for the post-consumer recycled plastic content of plastic
beverage containers beginning January 1, 2026. Initiators of deposit and
spirits manufacturers would be required to begin certain annual reporting
requirements regarding their products before April 1, 2024. The bill also
establishes a registration fee that initiators of deposit and manufacturers
of spirits must pay to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) of
$500 beginning April 1, 2024. The DEP has indicated that the new regulatory
and reporting requirements of this bill would require additional staffing.
Given the implementation timeline in this bill, the additional position will
not be necessary until fiscal year 2023-24, when the additional reporting
requirements begin. The DEP will require ongoing General Fund appropriations
of $89,795 beginning in fiscal year 2023-24 for one Environmental Specialist
III position and associated costs. The DEP estimates that the increased
registration fees will result in an Other Special Revenue Funds increase of
$21,000 in fiscal year 2023-24, increasing to $84,000 in fiscal year
2024-25. |