Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H917 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/27/2025

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 638       FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 917
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Mike Connolly and David M. Rogers
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act reducing packaging waste.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Mike Connolly26th Middlesex1/10/2025David M. Rogers24th Middlesex1/10/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 638       FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 917
By Representatives Connolly of Cambridge and Rogers of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied 
by bill, House, No. 917) of Mike Connolly and David M. Rogers for legislation to reduce 
packaging waste. Environment and Natural Resources.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 770 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act reducing packaging waste.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority 
of the same, as follows:
1 The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 21O the following 
2chapter: 
3 CHAPTER 21P: The Sustainable Food Service Ware Act.
4 Section 1. Definitions
5 “Compostable” refers to (i) a product comprised of wood or fiber-based substrate only; or 
6(ii) bioplastic materials that meet the American Society for Testing and Materials International 
7Standards D6400 or D6868, as those standards may be amended, or international equivalents. 
8ASTM D6400 is the specification for plastics designed for compostability in municipal or 
9industrial aerobic composting facilities. D6868 is the specification for aerobic compostability of  2 of 3
10plastics used as coatings on a compostable substrate. A bioplastic product must use a logo 
11indicating the product has been certified by a recognized third-party independent verification 
12body as meeting the ASTM standard specification; and displays the word "compostable," where 
13possible indicating the product has been tested by a recognized third-party independent body and 
14meets the ASTM standard specification. Fiber-based products or product components would 
15need to be (a) free from any organic fluorine substances that a manufacturer has intentionally 
16added in any amount; and (b) not contain total organic fluorine at or above 100 parts per million 
17as measured by an independent laboratory.
18 “Disposable food service ware” All food and beverage containers, bowls, plates, trays, 
19cartons, cups, lids, straws, stirrers, forks, spoons, knives, film wrap, and other items designed for 
20one-time or non-durable uses on or in which any food vendor directly places or packages 
21prepared foods or which are used to consume foods. This includes, but is not limited to, service 
22ware for takeout foods and leftovers from partially consumed meals prepared at food 
23establishments.
24 “Food establishment” An operation that stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends, or 
25otherwise provides food for human consumption. This includes without limitation restaurants 
26and food trucks.
27 “Recyclable Material” that can be sorted, cleansed, and reconstituted using the local 
28municipality’s regular year-round collection program for the purpose of using the altered form in 
29the manufacture of a new product. Regular year-round collection means either the municipal 
30curbside pickup or else a municipal transfer station in communities that do not have curbside 
31pickup. All recyclable plastic material must be identified by its plastic resin code in a visible  3 of 3
32manner on the food service ware. "Recycling" does not include burning, incinerating, converting, 
33or otherwise thermally destroying solid waste.
34 “Reusable Products” Those that will be used more than once in its same form by a food 
35establishment. Reusable food service ware includes: tableware, flatware, food or beverage 
36containers, packages or trays, such as, but not limited to, soft drink bottles and milk containers 
37that are designed to be returned to the store or distributor that provided the take-out containers. 
38Reusable materials include aluminum and glass. Reusable also includes cleanable durable 
39containers, packages, or trays used on-premises or returnable containers brought back to the food 
40establishment.
41 Section 2. (a) Except as provided in this section on and after January 1, 2027, all retail 
42food establishments will use food service ware that is compostable, recyclable, or reusable for 
43any food prepared or packaged on premises.
44 (b) The Department of Environmental Protection shall promulgate regulations with 
45regard to the enforcement of this chapter.