Bill S.217, introduced by Senator Watson, establishes an extended producer responsibility program for the collection and disposal of discarded mattresses in Vermont. The legislation mandates that mattress producers, either individually or through a mattress stewardship organization, develop and implement a collection plan that ensures discarded mattresses are collected at no cost to consumers. The bill outlines definitions related to mattresses and producers, sets performance goals for the stewardship program, and requires producers to operate under an approved collection plan by July 1, 2028. It also emphasizes the need for convenient collection sites and mandates that at least 45% of the market share of mattress sales in the state be represented by stewardship organizations.

Key provisions include a minimum recycling rate of 70% for mattresses in the program's first year, annual reporting requirements for producers, and a prohibition on selling mattresses unless the producer is part of an approved collection plan starting July 1, 2028. The bill introduces new responsibilities for the Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, including the review and approval of collection plans and maintaining public information on collection opportunities. Additionally, it establishes a fee structure for funding the program and provides antitrust immunity for participants. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and includes amendments to existing laws to integrate the new Mattress Collection Program.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 10-6621a(a), 10-6621a, 10-8003(a), 10-8003, 10-8503(a), 10-8503