On June 12, North Carolina's governor signed HB 315 -- "An Act to Require that Degradable Plastic Products be Clearly Labeled to Prevent Contamination of Recycled Plastic Feedstocks" -- into law. The new law prohibits the sale in North Carolina of any rigid plastic container labeled "degradable," "biodegradable" or "compostable," or otherwise suggesting that it will biodegrade, unless the label also carries text of the same size and color that says "Not Recyclable, Do Not Recycle." Special thanks to NAPCOR's North Carolina members for their efforts in support of the bill. A similar bill was under consideration in the Alabama legislature, but session time ran out; the bill is expected to move in 2014.

Minnesota's budget legislation includes a provision directing the Pollution Control Agency to prepare a report with "...recommendations for a statewide recycling refund program for beverage containers that achieves an 80 percent recycling rate." The report is due to the legislature in January. NAPCOR will be following the process closely and sharing data and information to assist the state in its efforts.

In Ontario, policy makers are proposing a major overhaul of the Waste Diversion Act, which created the province's product stewardship programs for packaging and printed paper, electronics and tires. The proposed revision, up for a vote in the fall, would eliminate the stewardship organizations, including Stewardship Ontario, and would encourage individual producer responsibility, allowing producers to work through intermediaries. The proposal also eliminates the "eco-fees" that fund the programs in favor of a system that relies on producers internalizing the costs of end-of-life management.

Tennessee has enacted legislation to incentivize the recycling of aluminum cans and plastic beverage containers. Municipalities can now claim triple credit for aluminum cans and plastic beverage containers that are diverted from disposal for recycling, enabling them to achieve recycling goals more easily and encouraging a focus on recycling beverage containers.

The Rhode Island Special Legislative Commission to Study Producer Responsibility Models for Paper and Packaging has issued its final report. Recommendations include supporting continued discussion of EPR for paper and packaging through the legislative process, while taking a number of concrete actions to increase recycling, such as promoting recycling in multi-family buildings and partnering with AMERIPEN to implement recovery projects.