Maryland Passes Two Composting Bills

Labelling, Infrastructure Bill Pass on Last Days of Session

Testifying on Maryland’s labelling bill: from left Virginia Streeter, ILSR; Linda Norris-Waldt, USCC; Brenda Platt, ILSR; Rhodes Yepsen, BPI; and Sponsor Del. Shane Robinson.

Double victories were in hand for the Maryland compost community thanks to the passage of HB171 and HB1349, bills that speak to proper labelling of compostable products, and a state study on infrastructure expansion for Maryland.

The introduction of both bills was facilitated by Marylander Brenda Platt of the  Institute for Local Self Reliance  and leader of the MD-DC Composting Council Committee.

HB 171 requires the Maryland Department of the Environment to study and report on existing compost manufacturing infrastructure in Maryland, as well as laws passed by other cities and states that divert food scraps and organics, and to then recommend how to improve infrastructure and funding opportunities to expand composting in the state.

HB 1349 required products being sold in the state labelled as compostable to meet BPI standards, and used USCC model legislation designed by the Compostable Products Task Force.