AZ HB2497

Repeals sections 9-500.38 and 11-269.16 of Arizona Revised Statutes relating to scrap metal dealer licensing preemption.

Prohibits retail sellers of groceries, food, or beverages from providing customers with disposable or single-use bags for transporting items away from the point of sale.

Requires retailers to collect a fee from customers for each single-use disposable cup, straw, food container, and recyclable food container; the Director establishes the fee amount by rule.

Allocates collected fees as follows: 50% of recyclable container fees to cities/towns/counties for recycling refund programs, 40% of single-use item fees to subsidize household waste recycling programs operating at a loss, and remaining portion to the state general fund.

Allows cities, towns, and counties to enact ordinances that are more stringent than this section.