The proposed General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5524 aims to strengthen the state's materials management system by implementing stricter recycling requirements for source-separated organic materials. The bill modifies Section 22a-226e of the general statutes, replacing existing provisions with new mandates that progressively lower the threshold for entities required to separate and recycle organic materials. Starting January 1, 2024, commercial entities generating an average of at least 104 tons of organic materials per year must comply, with the threshold decreasing to 52 tons by January 1, 2025, and further to 26 tons by January 1, 2026. Additionally, a new requirement effective July 1, 2027, mandates that any entity generating at least 26 tons of organic materials annually must adhere to these recycling provisions. The bill also includes reporting requirements for affected entities to summarize their food donation and recycling efforts.

In addition to recycling mandates, the bill prohibits food service establishments from using expanded polystyrene food service ware starting July 1, 2028, and restricts single-use items unless requested by customers, effective January 1, 2028. It bans single-use drinking straws containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals and allows municipalities to adopt stricter regulations on expanded polystyrene, with specific exemptions for certain products. Furthermore, the bill prioritizes the donation of surplus edible food over disposal methods for entities subject to commercial organics diversion, effective July 1, 2027. It also outlines eligible project costs for municipal or regional materials management grant programs to support waste reduction and food recovery initiatives. The provisions of the bill are set to take effect at various dates, with some sections becoming effective as early as July 1, 2026.