---
title: O.C.G.A. § 12-8-160. Legislative findings and declarations.
collection: code
id: 12-8-160
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 12-8-160 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-160
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-160.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-160/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t12-(v10)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=67595359_0#page=1024
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-142.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-161.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES / WASTE MANAGEMENT / PRODUCT PACKAGING
---

# O.C.G.A. § 12-8-160. Legislative findings and declarations.

The General Assembly finds and declares that:

(1) The management of solid waste can pose a wide range of hazards to public health and safety and to the environment;

(2) Packaging comprises a significant percentage of the overall solid waste stream;

(3) The presence of heavy metals in packaging is a concern in light of the likely presence of heavy metals in emissions or ash when packaging is incinerated or in leachate when packaging is landfilled;

(4) Lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium, on the basis of available scientific and medical evidence, are of particular concern;

(5) It is desirable as a first step in reducing the toxicity of packaging waste to eliminate the addition of heavy metals to packaging; and

(6) It is desirable to achieve reduction in toxicity without impeding or discouraging the expanded use of postconsumer materials in the production of packaging and its components.

## History

Code 1981, § 12-8-160, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 2968, § 1.