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Chapter 428 Rulemaking:
On February 19, 2026, the Maine Board of Environmental Protection unanimously adopted amendments to the existing Stewardship Program for Packaging, 06-096 C.M.R. ch. 428 (“Chapter 428”). Chapter 428 was amended to:
- Align the rule with the changes made to statute with the passage of L.D. 1423, An Act to Improve Recycling by Updating the Stewardship Program for Packaging (P.L. 2025, ch. 383) by the 132nd Maine Legislature, First Special Session;
- Add Appendix A – The Packaging Material Types List. This list defines packaging material and designates packaging material types readily recyclable, as applicable; and
- Make non-substantive clarifying and corrective changes.
For a copy of Chapter 428, visit the State of Maine’s Rule Chapters for the Department of Environmental Protection website.
Request for Proposals for the Stewardship Organization:
Maine DEP anticipates publishing a Request for Proposals for the Stewardship Organization . The Stewardship Organization will be contracted by the Department to administer the day-to-day operations of the Stewardship Program for Packaging.
The Department will provide notification when the Request for Proposals has been released through another newsletter.
Producer Start-up Registration with the Stewardship Organization:
Start-up registration will only require a producer to estimate and report on the tons of packaging material produced during the timeframe identified in the contract between the Department and the Stewardship Organization.
Further details about the opening of start-up registration will be shared in an upcoming newsletter.
Producer Guidance:
The Department is working to develop producer guidance to assist with producer compliance. Producer guidance will detail producer identification, packaging material type identification, start-up registration, annual reporting, methods of estimation, and alternative collection programs.
Producer guidance is anticipated to be released in summer of 2026.
Alternative Collection Programs Applications:
Applications for alternate collection programs will be accepted by the Department starting on the day the agreement between the Department and the Stewardship Organization takes effect.
More details on alternate collection programs, including how to apply for one, will be available through producer guidance.
Municipal Guidance:
Municipal participation in the Stewardship Program for Packaging is voluntary. The participation requirements are:
- Provide for the collection and recycling of one or more of the materials designated as readily recyclable on The Packaging Material Types List; and
- Comply with the annual data reporting requirements of reporting recycling tonnages to the State and reporting recycling costs to the Stewardship Organization.
A participating municipality can expect an annual reimbursement for eligible costs accrued from recycling packaging material at a median rate. The first municipal reimbursements are anticipated to be issued in fall of 2027 for costs accrued from recycling packaging material realized in calendar year 2026.
The Department is also working to develop municipal guidance to assist municipalities regarding participation, including reporting requirements. Municipal guidance is anticipated to be released later this year.
A municipality that intends to participate in the program should indicate its intent by emailing MainePackagingEPR@maine.gov.
Newsletter Archive:
All newsletters released by the Department to date are available on the Stewardship Program for Packaging website.
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