Massachusetts packaging and PFAS bills

What it would do: Establishes a PFAS Remediation Trust Fund for contamination mitigation, prohibits intentionally added PFAS in food packaging effective January 1, 2028, and restricts PFAS in priority consumer products effective January 1, 2029, with exemptions for unavoidable uses.

What it would do: Establishes programs and requirements to strengthen Massachusetts agriculture, including a food tourism task force, food security infrastructure grants, a next generation farmers fund, urban agriculture on vacant lots, farm-to-school initiatives, and reporting requirements on agricultural land and food assistance programs.

What it would do: Establishes a PFAS Public Safety Fund administered by the secretary of public safety and security, funded by appropriations and grants, to support development and testing of PFAS-free firefighter turnout gear meeting NFPA standards and disposal of PFAS-containing gear.

What it would do: Prohibits manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, or distributing food packaging with intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Massachusetts, effective January 1, 2027. Requires manufacturers to provide certificates of compliance to purchasers and the Department of Public Health.

What it would do: Prohibits biosolids application on land and biosolids-derived fertilizer sales starting June 30, 2028. Creates liability immunity for farmers, establishes sludge management planning requirements, and creates funds to assist farmers and municipalities affected by PFAS contamination.

What it would do: Expands Massachusetts' bottle deposit law to include more beverage containers, increases deposit from 5 cents to 10 cents, establishes a Clean Environment Fund from unclaimed deposits, requires bag-drop programs and universal product code barcodes, and sets redemption rate targets of 65-95 percent by 2033.

What it would do: Prohibits persons from making deceptive or misleading claims about recyclability, biodegradability, or compostability in advertising or packaging. Requires companies making such environmental claims to maintain documentation and provide it to the attorney general upon request.

What it would do: Prohibits state agencies and local governments from funding the purchase, use, or installation of artificial turf containing zinc, plastic, or intentionally-added PFAS chemicals. Allows existing fields with these materials to remain in use but prohibits replacement with similar materials.

What it would do: Establishes a packaging reduction program requiring producers to pay fees to a nonprofit organization that funds collection and recycling infrastructure for covered materials like packaging and paper products sold in Massachusetts, with goals to reduce waste and increase recycling rates by specified dates through 2050.

What it would do: Prohibits manufacturers from knowingly selling children's products containing intentionally added PFAS. Requires manufacturers to report use of chemicals of concern to the state, remove high priority chemicals from certain products within specified timeframes, and comply with hazard assessment requirements for substitute chemicals.

What it would do: Prohibits food establishments from dispensing food in polystyrene disposable containers and retail establishments from selling polystyrene food service ware, effective August 1, 2026, with fines up to $1,000 per violation and a one-year deferment process for undue hardship.

What it would do: Prohibits food establishments from dispensing food in polystyrene containers and retail establishments from selling polystyrene food containers, effective August 1, 2027, with hardship exemptions available for one-year deferrals and fines up to $1,000 per violation.

What it would do: Restricts plastic bags, food service ware, and beverage containers; prohibits balloon releases; requires non-flushable wipe labeling; establishes a plastics recycling program and environmental protection fund; creates state procurement restrictions on single-use plastic bottles.

What it would do: Establishes a PFAS Remediation Trust Fund for contamination mitigation, prohibits intentionally added PFAS in food packaging and priority consumer products starting January 1, 2029, requires manufacturer registration of PFAS-containing products, restricts Class B firefighting foam with PFAS, and mandates multilingual public education campaigns.

What it would do: Expands the beverage container deposit law to include miniature alcoholic beverages, increases deposit amounts from 1 cent to 3 cents per container, and prohibits municipalities from banning miniature sales except those with prior ordinances.

What it would do: Amends the beverage container deposit law to include miniature alcoholic beverage containers (not exceeding 100 milliliters) within the definition of beverage containers subject to deposit requirements.

What it would do: Redirects beverage container deposit revenues above $70 million annually from the General Fund to a new Clean Environment Fund for solid waste management, environmental protection, and climate change mitigation, with at least 40% for recycling and composting and at most 50% for other environmental programs.

What it would do: Increases the minimum beverage container deposit refund from 5 cents to 10 cents, expands eligible containers to include all materials, establishes redemption targets of 65-95 percent by 2027-2036, requires reusable container return systems, and creates a Clean Environment Fund for solid waste and environmental programs.

What it would do: Expands the definition of 'beverage' to include soda water, carbonated soft drinks, mineral water, water, and alcoholic beverages, while excluding dairy products and natural fruit juices. Exempts breweries, distilleries, cideries, and wineries that only sell their own beverages on premises.

What it would do: Requires producers to incorporate minimum postconsumer recycled content into plastic trash bags, plastic carry-out bags, plastic beverage containers, rigid plastic containers, glass containers, and paper carry-out bags sold in Massachusetts, with percentages increasing over time, and establishes registration, reporting, and enforcement mechanisms.

What it would do: Prohibits food establishments from providing single-use plastic straws to customers unless requested. Authorizes licensing authorities to issue written warnings for first violations and fines up to $25 per day (maximum $300 annually) for subsequent violations.

What it would do: Requires retailers to sell beverage containers with tethered caps or caps with integrated openings starting January 1, 2024, and mandates plastic beverage containers contain minimum postconsumer recycled plastic content of 15 percent in 2024, increasing to 20 percent in 2026 and 25 percent in 2027.

What it would do: Prohibits producers from making deceptive claims about recyclability or compostability of containers and packaging materials sold in Massachusetts. Requires compostable products to meet specific standards and use distinctive labeling, and bans certain degradability terms on plastic products.

What it would do: Prohibits food establishments and retail establishments in Massachusetts from using, selling, or distributing disposable food service ware, packing materials, and certain items made from foam or solid polystyrene, effective one year after passage, with enforcement by health agents and penalties up to $500 per violation.

What it would do: Requires food service providers to offer reusable beverage containers and charge $0.01 per disposable beverage container, with fees funding a Clean Environment Fund. Mandates new full-service restaurants serve on-premise food only in reusable serviceware.