H949: Market Based Recycling

• Establishes a producer-driven, market-based recycling program requiring producers of packaging and printed paper sold in North Carolina to implement approved recycling programs by June 1, 2016.

• Producers must register with the Department of Environmental Quality and submit detailed program plans describing collection methods, financing, education, and strategies to achieve minimum recycling rates of 50% by 2020 and 60% by 2023.

• Producers are responsible for all program costs and prohibited from charging visible fees to households; exempts producers with gross sales under $250,000 and allows those with sales between $250,000-$500,000 to pay a capped annual fee of $750.

• Creates the Producer Recycling Management Account funded by producer registration and annual fees to support the Department's administration and enforcement of the program.

• Allows multiple producers to operate joint recycling programs through producer recycling organizations and authorizes antitrust immunity for conduct necessary to implement their recycling responsibilities.