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.