Projects

Completed Projects

2022

Glass Model Legislation Work Group
Organics-End Market Committee
State Electronics Challenge
Glass Recycling in Rural Communities in Maine
Minimum PCR Content Requirements for Plastic Products and Packaging Model Legislation
Minimum PCR Content Requirements for Plastic Products and Packaging Model Legislation
Recycled Content Mandates

In 2020, NEWMOA and NERC partnered to develop model post-consumer recycled content legislation for targeted plastic products and packaging. Through this initiative, the organizations were focused on:
- Encouraging a circular economy in plastics
- Promoting conservation of resources and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts of producing plastics products from petroleum and gas
- Strengthening domestic markets for products made with post-consumer plastics
- Increasing stability in the plastic scrap markets
In August 2022, NERC and NEWMOA announced the publication of Model Minimum Postconsumer Recycled Content Requirements for Plastic Products and Packaging Legislation. A joint Workgroup of state recycling officials worked from 2020 to 2022 on the model legislation. The model incorporates many of the suggestions received from 37 organizations and individuals during a public comment period in early 2022.

This Model bill would require producers of covered plastic products and packaging to use a specified amount of minimum postconsumer recycled content, phased in over time. The covered plastic packaging and products include film bags, single-use containers used for food, beverages, household cleaning, and personal care products, and rigid plastic containers. The Model does not address all types of plastic products and packaging.

The Workgroup included the following state agency individuals.

Recycled Content Legislation Workgroup

Mission: Joint Workgroup with NEWMOA to facilitate the development of model recycled content legislation to advance increased use of recycled materials in a plastic packaging and products.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Sherill Baldwin
Chris Nelson

Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Megan Pryor

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Claudine Ellyin
Brooke Nash

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Erin Jensen
Christopher Mikulewicz

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
John Vana

Northeast Recycling Council (NERC)
Megan Fontes

Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
Anne Bijur