2025 Maryland Legislative Session Recap

The 2025 Maryland General Assembly session was held January 8 - April 7, 2025. Of the many recycling bills we tracked, three made it to the finish line. Unfortunately, several of our most pressing bills did not pass including recycling initiatives related to electronics, yard waste, reusable beverage containers in sports venues, and mattresses.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to Legislative Chair Chaz Miller and MRN President Kitty McIlroy for making several trips to Annapolis to testify on our behalf. Additionally, a shout out to MRN members Kristyn Oldendorf (SWANA), Richard Keller (Baltimore County), and Gina Van De Walle (Howard County) who also provided testimony in favor of the Electronics bill while representing their respective organizations. 

And deep appreciation to the members of our Legislative Committee and Board of Directors for your insight, support, and tireless dedication.

Here’s a quick look at what we supported/opposed, what passed, and what didn’t quite make it this time around…

Relevant Bills for 2025:

What passed:

HB0009 Safety - Food System Resiliency Council - Definitions and Reports - Altering certain definitions related to the Food Resiliency Council; defining what constitutes "healthy food priority areas" as predominantly lower-income areas that have limited access to retail outlets that sell, affordable, healthy foods, and defining "wasted food" as not used for its intended purpose that is managed in a variety of ways; and repealing certain outdated reporting provisions and updating ongoing reporting provisions.

Position: Supported. Read full statement.

Action: MRN provided a written testimony citing our support for the updated definition of wasted food which seeks to promote alternative methods of managing food that does not involve disposal as the only choice.

HB0277 / SB0096 Environment - Water Bottle Filling Stations – Requirement - Requiring a water bottle filling station or a combined water bottle filling station and drinking fountain to be installed in certain new construction or as part of certain renovations beginning October 1, 2025; and requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of the Act.

Position: Support. Read full statements on HB0277 and SB0096.

Action: Legislative Chair Chaz Miller testified in person in support noting that the bill is a smart waste management practice at its best by reducing plastic waste and saving money.


SB0901 Environment - Packaging and Paper Products - Producer Responsibility Plans - Requiring certain producers of packaging materials, individually or as part of a producer responsibility organization, to submit a certain packaging materials producer responsibility plan to the Department of the Environment for review and approval on or before April 1, 2027, and every 5 years thereafter, in accordance with certain requirements.

Position: Support with amendments. Read full statement.

Action: While we have had concerns in the past, Chaz Miller testified in support noting that MRN has worked with legislators in the past to perfect the bill. While several of our suggested amendments were included in this version of the bill, we did join MACO with concern regarding Section 2 at the end of the bill, which requires feasibility plans submitted from each jurisdiction.

Note: Resource Recycling magazine has a summary of the bill along with a quote from Chaz Miller. See this Resource Recycling article.


What stalled in committee: 

HB0069 Environment - Plastic Products - Postconsumer Recycled Content Program - Prohibiting certain producers of certain plastic products from selling, offering for sale, or distributing the products to any person in the State unless certain conditions are met; requiring certain producers of certain plastic products to, individually or as part of a representative organization, register yearly, beginning March 1, 2026, and pay a registration fee annually beginning May 15, 2026, to the Department of the Environment; establishing minimum postconsumer recycled content percentage requirements for certain products; etc.

Position: Support with amendments. Read the full statement.

Action: Chaz Miller testified in support with suggested changes pointing out that while these bills can be effective, they are very complicated and contain standards that may not be achievable.


HB0232 / SB0346 Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program - Establishing the Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program to increase the reuse and recycling of beverage containers and reduce the litter, pollution, and costs associated with beverage containers; prohibiting a producer from selling, offering for sale, or distributing in or importing into the State a redeemable beverage container unless the producer is registered with the Department of the Environment, pays a certain fee, and is part of a certain stewardship organization; etc.

Position: Oppose. Read full statements on HB0232 and SB0346.

Action: Chaz Miller testified on HB0232 in opposition citing MRN’s appreciation of the concept but concerns over the economic impact it would have on public/private Materials Recycling Facilities (MRF) as these high-value materials would be diverted away from existing recycling programs ultimately raising the cost of curbside programs to taxpayers. MRN stands ready to work with the sponsors and supporters to address these and other issues to perfect the bill.


HB0338 State Buildings and State Highways - Collection and Disposal of Yard Waste - Prohibiting a person from disposing of yard waste collected on the grounds of a State building or State highway in a single-use plastic container; requiring a person to collect yard waste on the grounds of a State building or State highway in a container that will not be discarded with the yard waste or is a compostable paper bag; and requiring all yard waste collected on the grounds of a State building or State highway to be disposed of in a certain manner.

Position: Support. Read full statement.

Action: Chaz Miller testified in support of the bill stating that the bill is a win for the MD environment by reducing yard waste at the landfills while creating a viable compost product.


SB0591 / HB0931 Environment - Covered Electronic Device Recycling Program - Establishment (Electronics Recycling Health and Safety Modernization Act) - Establishing the Covered Electronic Device Recycling Program in the Department of the Environment; altering the contents and use of the State Recycling Trust Fund; establishing a separate covered electronic device recycling account and a separate covered electronic device manufacturer registration fee account within the Fund; altering certain provisions of law relating to registration fees for certain manufacturers of covered electronic devices; etc.

Position: Support. Read full statements on SB0591 and HB0931.

Action: A particularly important initiative to our mission, MRN President Kitty McIlroy testified in support of both SB0591 (watch testimony) and HB0931 (watch testimony) noting that the current bills are outdated and ineffective. She stressed the economic, environmental, and safety benefits that come with this legislation.


SB0686 Extended Producer Responsibility for Batteries and Battery-Containing Products (Battery Stewardship Act) - Requiring certain producers of batteries and battery-containing products to individually or as part of a battery stewardship organization submit a certain battery stewardship plan to the Department of the Environment for review and approval by July 1, 2026, and every 5 years thereafter, in accordance with certain requirements; requiring a battery stewardship program to be implemented within a certain amount of time after the Department approves a certain battery stewardship plan; etc.

Position: Support with amendment. Read full statement.

Action: Kitty McIlroy testified in support citing the issues of fires on trucks and in facilities; however, recommends waiting for the final report (due December 2025) from the Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety. MRN is part of the commission.

Note: In January, MRN President Kitty McIlroy and MRN member Kristyn Oldendorf (SWANA) participated in an EPA 2-day in-person working session on mid-format battery collection and labeling in Arlington VA. Their input along with other groups will help shape the EPA’s upcoming best practices and labeling guidelines.


HB0858 Mattress Stewardship Program - Establishment - Prohibiting, on and after January 1, 2031, a person from disposing of a mattress in a landfill, subject to certain exceptions; prohibiting, on and after January 1, 2031, a person from disposing of a mattress in an incinerator, subject to a certain exception; requiring certain producers of mattresses sold at retail in the State or a certain representative organization to submit a plan for the establishment of a Mattress Stewardship Program in the Department of the Environment for approval on or before July 1, 2027; etc.

Position: Support. Read full statement.

Action: On March 6, Kitty McIlroy testified in support of the bill noting that while mattresses are recyclable, there is a high cost incurred by jurisdictions that currently have such programs. This bill would support these programs by taking the financial burden off local governments and the public as well create local jobs while reducing the environmental impact of discarded mattresses. McIlroy has worked closely with Delegate Hill to improve the bill from past years, offering several amendments and suggestions.

Note: We had a glimmer of hope when the bill, which hadn’t made it out of committee by crossover day, saw a resurgence by passing the House. Unfortunately, it didn’t make it through the Senate. The bill also received media attention and was featured in a report by WMAR 2 News where Kitty McIlroy was interviewed on behalf of MRN for the report (watch the full report).


Provided written testimony only: 

HB0407 Environment - Municipal Recycling Plans – Requirement - Requiring the largest municipal corporation in each county, beginning on or before January 1, 2026, and every 5 years thereafter, to adopt or update certain recycling plans that provide for a reduction through recycling of a certain percentage of the municipal corporation's solid waste stream by weight under certain circumstances; and requiring the Department of Planning to identify certain municipal corporations as part of certain population projections.

Position: Oppose. Read full statement.


HB0639 Sports Venues - Reusable Beverage Containers - Requiring the owner or operator of a sports venue and the governing body of an institution of higher education that operates a sports venue to allow an individual attending a sporting event at the sports venue to bring and use a reusable beverage container during a sporting event.

Position: Support. Read full statement.


Of note:

HB0083 Environment - Tire Recycling Fee – Alterations - Requiring the Department of the Environment, instead of the Board of Public Works, to establish a tire recycling fee to be imposed on the first sale of a new tire in the State by a tire dealer; requiring the Department to set the tire recycling fee at $1 per tire beginning January 1, 2026; authorizing the Department to adjust the tire recycling fee for inflation every 2 fiscal years; and prohibiting the tire recycling fee from exceeding $2 per tire.

Action: This bill did not have a hearing, and we did not submit an official statement. In the meantime, Kitty McIlroy will continue to work with Delegate Boyce, MDE, and Maryland Scrap Tire Law Workgroup, which MRN established last fall. One possibility is to recommend CT’s EPR Law (passed in 2023) for the 2026 session.

Note: While the original bill HB83 did not pass, it was included in the 2025 Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act along with a $5.00 per tire fee to help pay for transportation projects across the state (under a separate fund).

Additional Bills (i.e., bills we tracked but offered no position or comments):

• HB0042 / SB0134 On-Farm Organics and Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Grant Programs – Established – Passed House, stalled in Senate
• HB0220 / SB0010 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Eligible Sources - Alterations (Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2025) - Stalled in Committee
• HB1092 Recycling - Prohibition on the Chemical Conversion of Plastic – Stalled in Committee

Each year, the Maryland General Assembly reviews more than 2,500 bills during its fast-paced 90-day legislative session—up to 700 of which may ultimately become law. Throughout this whirlwind period, MRN serves as a strong voice for Maryland’s recycling community, working to ensure legislation is effective, efficient, and free from unintended consequences that could undermine our shared mission of a healthier, more sustainable environment.

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