Maryland packaging and PFAS laws

What it would do: Requires wastewater treatment plants processing at least 50,000,000 gallons daily to monitor effluent for hormones, PFAS, and bacteria; maintain public websites reporting test results, bacteria levels, and bypass/overflow information; and prohibits noncompliant plants from participating in the Water Quality Trading Program.

What it would do: Requires the Department of Agriculture to develop and maintain a list of registered pesticides containing PFAS chemicals as active ingredients. Prohibits use of PFAS pesticides at health care facilities, schools, day care operations, residential lawns, and commercial mosquito spraying beginning June 1, 2032, and prohibits registration of new PFAS pesticides beginning the same date.

What it would do: Requires owners or operators of sports venues and governing bodies of institutions of higher education operating sports venues to allow individuals attending professional or collegiate sporting events to bring and use reusable beverage containers made of aluminum or stainless steel holding up to 24 ounces, though containers may be required to be empty upon entry.

What it would do: Prohibits manufacturers from selling products containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals in specified categories starting January 1, 2028-2029, requires registration of PFAS-containing products, and establishes a Maryland PFAS Chemicals Protection and Remediation Fund for assessment and remediation efforts.

What it would do: Adds waste-to-energy as a Tier 1 renewable source eligible for Maryland's renewable energy portfolio standard, defining it as energy from facilities that use no combustion, generate continuous base load power, employ carbon-recovery systems, produce no byproducts requiring land application or landfill disposal, achieve minimum 80% conversion ratio, and meet EPA interim guidance on PFAS destruction.

What it would do: Prohibits manufacturers from selling products containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals in specified categories starting January 1, 2028-2029. Requires manufacturers to register PFAS-containing products and establishes a Maryland PFAS Chemicals Protection and Remediation Fund.

What it would do: Alters the definition of 'exempt material' under Maryland's extended producer responsibility law for packaging and paper products to include packaging for products regulated as drugs, dietary supplements, or medical devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including associated components and consumable medical equipment.

What it would do: Excludes chemical conversion processes including pyrolysis, hydropyrolysis, methanolysis, gasification, and enzymatic breakdown from the definition of recycling. Prohibits any person from building a facility in Maryland that converts plastic to fuel or feedstock through these processes or similar ones as determined by the Department.

What it would do: Establishes a beverage container deposit and redemption program requiring 10-cent refunds for containers 24 oz or less and 15-cent refunds for larger containers sold in Maryland beginning January 1, 2029, with performance targets of 70% redemption by 2030 and 90% by 2033.

What it would do: Establishes a beverage container deposit and redemption program requiring 10-cent refunds for containers 24 oz or less and 15-cent refunds for larger containers sold in Maryland beginning January 1, 2029, with performance targets of 70% redemption by 2030 and 90% by 2033.

What it would do: Prohibits any person from selling, offering for sale, or distributing beverage containers connected with plastic ring connectors unless the connectors are made of biodegradable material. Establishes civil penalties of $500 for first violation, $1,000 for second, and $2,000 for third and subsequent violations, effective October 1, 2026.

What it would do: Extends civil action time limits for PFAS chemical exposure injuries to the earlier of 10 years from exposure or 3 years from discovery. Prohibits manufacturing, selling, or distributing consumer products containing PFAS chemicals in Maryland on or after July 1, 2026.

What it would do: Excludes chemical conversion processes including pyrolysis, hydropyrolysis, methanolysis, gasification, and enzymatic breakdown from the definition of recycling. Prohibits any person from building a facility in Maryland that converts plastic to fuel or feedstock through these processes or similar ones as determined by the Department.

What it would do: Requires sewage sludge utilization permits for agricultural land application to limit PFOS and PFOA concentration to 1 microgram per kilogram or lower EPA standards, with compliance demonstrated by laboratory analysis within 14 days of application, and authorizes the Department to establish more stringent limits by regulation.

What it would do: Requires the Department of Agriculture to develop and maintain a list of PFAS pesticides registered in Maryland. Prohibits use of listed PFAS pesticides at health care facilities, schools, day care operations, residential lawns, and commercial mosquito spraying beginning June 1, 2026, and prohibits Department registration of PFAS pesticides beginning June 1, 2027.

What it would do: Establishes a beverage container deposit and redemption program requiring producers to register, pay fees, and participate in a stewardship organization; mandates 10-cent or 15-cent deposits on containers sold in Maryland beginning January 1, 2028, with performance targets of 70% redemption by 2029 and 90% by 2032.

What it would do: Establishes a beverage container deposit-refund program requiring producers to register, pay fees, and join a stewardship organization to sell redeemable containers in Maryland starting January 1, 2028, with refund values of 10-15 cents and performance targets of 70% redemption by 2029 and 90% by 2032.

What it would do: Establishes a postconsumer recycled content program requiring plastic beverage and rigid plastic container producers to register annually, pay fees, and meet minimum recycled content percentages ranging from 15-50% depending on product type and year, with penalties for non-compliance.