ME LD1423

Redefines "producer" under Maine's packaging stewardship program to clarify responsibility across physical retail, internet/remote sales, and franchise operations, allowing producers to contractually assign stewardship responsibilities to other parties

Expands the definition of "consumer" to include residences, schools, government facilities, public spaces, and commercial businesses using municipal or state waste management services

Modifies producer exemptions by replacing the 15-ton perishable food packaging exemption with a partial exemption for the first 15 tons of perishable food packaging, and removes the complete exemption for producers using less than 15 tons for perishable food

Prohibits requiring producers to pay increased fees or penalties for packaging not containing post-consumer recycled material when state or federal law effectively prohibits such recycled content

Changes compliance tracking from UPC-based reporting to producer and brand-based reporting, explicitly prohibiting requirements for producers to report using product UPCs