On February 20, 2024, Associate Policy Director Dominic Butchko submitted written testimony to the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in support of SB 686- Environment- Covered Electronic Devices Recycling Program- Establishment with amendments. This bill establishes a framework whereby the State will assess a fee on the purchase of certain electronics in order to more adequately fund primarily county-operated infrastructure for electronics recycling.
Counties request that on page 9, in lines 3-12, do not strike but retain items (C)(1) & (2). Retaining this provision clarifies that counties can continue their own electronics recycling programs and will allow Counties to use the recorded recycled weights in their Maryland Recycling Act required annual reporting.
SB 686 seeks to strengthen this infrastructure by establishing a fee on the purchase of electronics and using those funds to provide more sufficient resources to collection and recycling operations. Importantly, counties that function as both collectors and recyclers will be eligible to receive reimbursement for both services, extending the capacity of local programs and providing more flexibility to local tax dollars. Should a county already be satisfied with its existing electronics collection and recycling programming, the legislation enables a county to retain that offering and not participate in the newly established scheme.
SB 686’s cross-file, HB 830, was heard on February 21, 2024 in the House Environment and Transportation Committee. Dominic Butchko submitted written testimony in support of this bill with amendments.
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