This bill amends various sections of the Minnesota Statutes concerning solid waste management by exempting paper products from the extended producer responsibility program. Key changes include the removal of paper products from the definition of "covered material" and the establishment of new definitions for "exempt materials" that exclude paper products. The responsibilities of producers are clarified, indicating they are not accountable for paper products, while the requirements for statewide waste management programs are updated to focus solely on packaging.

Additionally, the bill mandates that producers implement and finance programs aimed at reducing the environmental and health impacts of covered materials through waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting. It establishes new requirements for producer responsibility organizations regarding the collection of annual fees based on the amount of covered materials introduced by each producer, while also incentivizing environmentally friendly practices. The bill includes provisions to discourage harmful materials and ensure that generated revenue covers financial obligations and operational costs. All new provisions will take effect the day following final enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 115A.1441, 115A.1442, 115A.1450, 115A.1451, 115A.1454