HB 1237: Pollution Prevention and Producer Responsibility Act of 2026; enact

Georgia currently has no statewide system requiring companies that make packaging, paper products, or beverage containers to pay for or manage what happens to those materials after use. House Bill 1237 would create the 'Pollution Prevention and Producer Responsibility Act of 2026,' adding a new article to the state's waste management law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 8 of Title 12). It sets up a Producer Responsibility Advisory Board within the Department of Natural Resources, requires a statewide needs assessment, and requires producers of packaging and paper to register with an approved nonprofit Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) that pays for recycling, composting, and reuse services. Separately, it creates a beverage container deposit return system, starting with a 10 cent refund value on containers within two years of the law taking effect, rising to 15 cents if redemption targets aren't met. The bill also directs the department to develop lists of recyclable and compostable materials, restrict certain toxic additives like lead and PFAS within four years, fund a reuse assistance program, and enforce compliance with civil penalties up to $50,000 per day.

• Creates a Producer Responsibility Advisory Board within the Department of Natural Resources to review and advise on producer responsibility plans and programs.
• Requires companies that sell packaging, paper products, or beverage containers in Georgia to register with an approved nonprofit Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) within specified timeframes.
• Establishes a beverage container deposit system with a refund value starting at 10 cents per container, rising to 15 cents if redemption rate targets are not met.
• Directs the Department of Natural Resources to set statewide performance standards for reuse, recycling, composting, and redemption rates for covered materials.
• Bans the intentional addition of certain toxic substances (lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, phthalates, and PFAS) to covered materials starting four years after the law takes effect.
• Authorizes the department to issue notices of violation and administrative civil penalties of up to $50,000 per day for noncompliance.

The bill affects manufacturers, brand owners, and importers of packaging, paper products, and beverage containers sold in Georgia; retailers; recycling, composting, and material recovery facilities; local governments and public service providers that manage waste; and consumers who would pay refundable deposits on beverage containers.

If enacted, Georgia businesses that sell packaged goods and beverages would face new registration, fee, and reporting obligations, and consumers would pay a refundable deposit on most beverage containers. Recycling and composting infrastructure across the state would be funded differently, shifting costs from local governments and taxpayers toward producers.

• Section 12-8-110.2 establishes the Producer Responsibility Advisory Board with members representing local governments, environmental justice communities, recyclers, composters, retailers, and deposit-return experts, appointed for four-year terms.
• Section 12-8-110.3 requires a statewide needs assessment within nine months of the law's effective date, covering recycling infrastructure, market viability, and funding needs.
• Section 12-8-110.4 requires producers to register with an approved packaging or beverage PRO within one year, with a limited exception for producers already achieving a 65-70 percent recycling, reuse, or composting rate.
• Section 12-8-110.6 sets the beverage container refund value at 10 cents within two years, rising to 15 cents if redemption performance standards under Section 12-8-110.7 are not met.
• Section 12-8-110.14 requires each PRO to fund a reuse financial assistance program with at least $5 million annually, adjusted for inflation.
• Section 12-8-110.15 prohibits producers from intentionally adding certain toxic substances, including lead, mercury, phthalates, and PFAS, to covered materials starting four years after enactment.
• Section 12-8-110.17 authorizes the department to issue corrective orders and administrative civil penalties of up to $50,000 per day for violations.

1. 2026-02-10House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-09House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-06House Hopper (House)

• Eric Bell (D, HD-075)Primary sponsor
• Long Tran (D, HD-080)
• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)
• Doreen Carter (D, HD-093)
• Debra Bazemore (D, HD-069)
• Gabriel Sanchez (D, HD-042)

• recycling policy
• beverage container deposits
• packaging regulation
• waste management
• plastic pollution