GA HB1237

Requires producers of packaging, paper products, and beverage containers sold in Georgia to register with a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) and pay fees to fund end-of-life recycling, composting, and reuse services for their products

Establishes a beverage container deposit return system with an initial 10-cent refund value (increasing to 15 cents if redemption targets are not met), requiring all beverage containers between 50 milliliters and 3 liters to display refund markings within 2-3 years of the act's effective date

Creates a Producer Responsibility Advisory Board within the Department of Natural Resources with 12+ members representing local governments, environmental justice organizations, recyclers, composters, and retailers to oversee PRO programs and plans

Prohibits the intentional addition of toxic substances including lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, phthalates, and PFAS to covered materials within 4 years of enactment, with violations subject to administrative penalties up to $50,000 per day

Mandates a $5 million annual reuse financial assistance program funded by PROs to support reusable packaging systems, and requires PROs to submit five-year producer responsibility plans with performance targets for recycling rates, composting rates, source reduction, and postconsumer recycled content