| 1 | 1 | | 1 of 1 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1279 FILED ON: 1/16/2025 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 626 |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | Jason M. Lewis, (BY REQUEST) |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | An Act to consider adoption of aspects of the German Green Dot Waste Reduction Standards. |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Vincent Dixon60 Lake St Apt N Winchester MA 01890 1 of 3 |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1279 FILED ON: 1/16/2025 |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 626 |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | By Mr. Lewis (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 626) of Vincent Dixon, |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | for legislation to consider adoption of aspects of the German Green Dot Waste Reduction |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | Standards. Environment and Natural Resources. |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | SEE SENATE, NO. 522 OF 2023-2024.] |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (2025-2026) |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | An Act to consider adoption of aspects of the German Green Dot Waste Reduction Standards. |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | of the same, as follows: |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | 1 SECTION I – LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | 2 The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the following new |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | 3chapter: |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | 4 An Act to Consider Adoption of Particular Waste Reduction Standards (PWRS). |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | 5 PURPOSE – It is significant to the general, and specific, public health of the residents, |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | 6businesses, and other enterprises that live, and operate in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | 7that there are various problems arising from, the creation of various forms of waste, and distinct |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | 8constraints on the disposal of waste, and trash of various kinds. This is especially true in |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | 9congested, urban areas, but also has known, and unknown, effects on the general environment, 2 of 3 |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | 10whether watersheds, air, wetlands, useful lands of all kinds, and oceans. In recent years, this |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | 11situation has become more severe, and these are a series of problems that can be addressed in |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | 12various ways. |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | 13 SECTION II – ANALYSIS |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | 14 1.) In dealing with various forms of waste processing, demand side reduction can, and |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | 15must be, an important part of overall waste management policies. |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | 16 2.) While recycling is valuable, the reduction of packaging waste, by improved packaging |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | 17design, and direct conceptual design elements, by manufacturers, and delivery services, can be |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | 18effective, as part of a broader set of policies. |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | 19 3.) The provisions of this statute, are adopted, for the purposes of consistency, of |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | 20manufacturing, retail, and other commercial activities, and transactions, across the |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | 21Commonwealth. They recognize that while local ordinances have value, that there should be a |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | 22degree of consistency, actions, and improved recommendations, therefore, for environmentally |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | 23friendly policies, across the entire Commonwealth. |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | 24 4.) This statute authorizes relevant state authorities to consider, and adopt Particular |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | 25Waste Reduction Standards (PWRS); through Regulatory Processes, that may include financial |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | 26incentives, and other mechanisms, for businesses to design product packaging, and mailing |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | 27materials, that reduce the amount of materials in their packages, while maintaining the safety of |
|---|
| 58 | 58 | | 28products that are sent, and/or delivered. |
|---|
| 59 | 59 | | 29 SECTION III – ADDITIONAL COOPERATIVE AUTHORITIES 3 of 3 |
|---|
| 60 | 60 | | 30 Various provisions of this statute, and additional proposed regulations, may be utilized, at |
|---|
| 61 | 61 | | 31the discretion of local municipal, legislative, and/or executive authorities. |
|---|