Legislation & Regulations

New York introduces EPR legislation

New York State Sen. Todd Kaminsky and Assemblyman Steve Englebright have introduced S.1185A, which would require packaging producers in the state to pay for recycling.

The bill states that by shifting the financial responsibility for the disposal of packaging and paper products from local governments to corporate producers, recycling in the state will increase. Under the bill, producers would be required to finance the recycling of their paper products and packaging materials but also would be rewarded for enhancing the recyclability of the items.

S.1185A states that within three years after the effective date of its implementation, producers would have to comply with the provisions of the bill individually or as part of a producer responsibility organization. Within one year after the department approves a producer responsibility plan, producers would be required to meet the minimum postconsumer-recycled-material-content rate and minimum recycling rate for a covered material or product as approved by the department in the producer responsibility plan.

According to the bill, the program also would create a funding mechanism to cover costs, with charges being adjusted based on the rate of recycled content used in the product.

If S.1185A passes, no producer would be permitted to sell any covered materials in New York state unless those products are included in a producer responsibility organization plan that has been approved by state regulators.

India lowers tariffs on some inbound scrap metals

The Brussels-based Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) has informed its members that the government of India has lowered or removed some tariffs on some scrap metal imports.

BIR says it has confirmed the customs duty on ferrous scrap imports into India “has been reduced to zero percent until March 31, 2022.”

An 11-page Ministry of Finance document for customs duty procedures, posted by the BIR to its website, shows the 7204 harmonized system (HS) code associated with ferrous scrap has been changed from 2.5 percent to “nil.” The duty for inbound copper-bearing scrap also has been changed, with the document showing the 7404 HS code being lowered to 2.5 percent from 5 percent.

The Feb. 1 document includes a wider range of manufactured, semimanufactured, agricultural and mineral goods.