H.915 requires beverage manufacturers and distributors to join a producer responsibility organization (PRO) that will manage the collection and recycling of beverage containers. The PRO would handle logistics currently managed through Vermont’s deposit system (5 cents for most containers, 15 cents for liquor), shifting responsibility from consumers and retailers to producers. It applies to standard containers made of glass, aluminum, or plastic (excluding biodegradable materials and containers over three liters). The current deposit system remains in place, but the PRO would administer collection and disposal instead of state-run redemption centers.
S.177 establishes an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for waste motor vehicle tires in Vermont, requiring manufacturers to cover collection and recycling costs. It directly affects tire manufacturers, retailers, and waste tire collection facilities by mandating annual collection rates based on prior sales data. Key provisions include defining "waste tires," setting minimum collection targets (calculated by dividing collected tires by average prior sales), and addressing "legacy waste tire piles" (50+ tires accumulating on non-farm property). The law also clarifies definitions for terms like "covered entity" and excludes certain vehicles (e.g., e-bikes, farm equipment) from the scope.
This Vermont bill (S 247) bans specific plastic-related practices starting in 2029 or 2030. It prohibits chemical conversion of plastics (like turning plastic into fuel via pyrolysis or gasification) and bans the sale of personal care/cleaning products containing plastic microbeads beginning January 1, 2029. It also bans medical solution containers with a common plasticizer (DEHP) from sale starting January 1, 2030, and medical tubing containing DEHP starting January 1, 2035. The bill directly affects manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of these products within Vermont.
S.217 requires mattress producers (including manufacturers, importers, and brands selling in Vermont) to create and manage collection programs for discarded mattresses. It establishes a system where producers - either individually or through a stewardship organization - must cover the costs of collecting, recycling, or responsibly disposing of mattresses when consumers discard them. The bill defines key terms like "discarded mattress" (any mattress a consumer abandons or intends to discard) and excludes items such as mattress pads, waterbeds, and baby products from coverage. This shifts responsibility for mattress waste management from local governments and consumers to the producers themselves, creating a structured program for environmentally sound disposal.
H 478 requires grocery stores and markets to use compostable price look-up (PLU) stickers on produce instead of plastic ones. The stickers must be made from natural materials or meet industrial composting standards with food-safe adhesive. This applies to all wholesale and retail food sellers who attach these stickers to produce and takes effect July 1, 2028, aligning with upcoming European Union standards. The bill specifically targets PLU stickers, not broader plastic regulations.
H.204 establishes a new tire recycling program requiring tire manufacturers to cover the costs of collecting and recycling waste tires. Starting January 1, 2027, manufacturers must register with Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources, implement approved recycling plans, and pay fees to fund collection. The law sets annual collection targets based on previous tire sales data, aiming to reduce waste tire piles. It directly affects tire manufacturers and retailers selling tires in Vermont, shifting responsibility for tire disposal from taxpayers to producers.
This bill requires Vermont's Secretary of Natural Resources to study packaging waste management by January 2027. The study will examine current recycling rates, barriers to reducing plastic waste, health/environmental impacts of packaging chemicals, and opportunities for reuse programs. It also bans the use of chemical conversion technologies (like breaking down plastic into fuel or oil) for plastic waste disposal in Vermont. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill requires Vermont's Secretary of Natural Resources to assess the feasibility of establishing a facility that processes waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam into reusable blocks for recycling. It directs the Secretary to coordinate with waste management companies, haulers, and businesses generating EPS foam waste, and to submit a report by January 15, 2026, with recommendations on location, costs, landfill disposal policies, and public access. The assessment will determine whether such a densifier should be built and how it would operate, but does not mandate the facility or ban EPS foam from landfills. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and is currently under review by the Environment Committee.
H.319 establishes an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for household hazardous products in Vermont, requiring manufacturers to register with stewardship organizations by November 2025. These organizations must submit collection plans by July 2026 to manage free statewide recycling of covered products like gas cylinders and certain hazardous waste items (excluding architectural paint). The bill mandates that manufacturers cannot sell covered products without participating in an approved stewardship program, which must include annual reporting and audits. It directly affects manufacturers of specific hazardous consumer products sold in Vermont, shifting responsibility for end-of-life management from municipalities to producers. The legislation does not create new environmental standards but reorganizes waste management accountability through mandatory industry registration and program oversight.
H 119 expands Vermont's beverage container redemption system to include cider, hard kombucha, noncarbonated water, and noncarbonated soft drinks, while increasing the refundable deposit from 5 cents to 10 cents for most containers. Consumers pay this deposit when purchasing qualifying beverages and receive it back when returning empty containers to retailers or redemption centers. Manufacturers and distributors will reimburse retailers 3.5-4 cents per container for redemption processing. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026, and applies to all affected beverage types sold in the state.
