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<section article="gen" article_name="Environment" number="9-2503" title_number="9" title_name="Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities" subtitle_number="25" subtitle_name="Producer Responsibility for Packaging and Paper Products">
  <level label="a">
    <text>There is a producer responsibility advisory council.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The purpose of the advisory council is to provide advice and make recommendations regarding establishing and implementing a producer responsibility program in the State for  covered materials, including advice on drafting, amending, and implementing producer responsibility plans.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The advisory council shall consist of members appointed by the Secretary, representing a broad range of interested stakeholders, including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Representatives from the following industries or entities in the State:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Local government agencies responsible for recycling programs;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Recyclables and compostable materials collectors from both the public and private sectors;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Recycling processors from both the public and private sectors;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>Organics recycling processors;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>Producers from the consumer goods sector;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>Retail and small businesses; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="7">
          <text>Material–oriented trade groups;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Representatives of at least two nonprofit organizations in the State with missions related to reducing waste;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>At least one representative of an environmental advocacy organization;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>At least one representative of an advocacy organization that advocates on behalf of overburdened or underserved communities, as defined in § 1–701 of this article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>At least two members of the public who reside in the State; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>The following nonvoting members, who may not serve as cochairs of the advisory council:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>A representative of the producer responsibility organization approved by the Department under § 9–2502(a) of this subtitle; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The Director of the Department’s Land and Materials Administration, or the Director’s designee.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In appointing members to the advisory council, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that the membership of the advisory council represents:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>All geographic regions of the State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Large and small counties and municipalities; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The variability in how waste and recyclable and compostable materials are collected and processed in the State.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>From among the advisory council members, the Secretary shall designate two representatives to serve as cochairs.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Department shall provide staff for the advisory council.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>A member of the advisory council:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>May not receive compensation as a member of the advisory council; but</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The advisory council shall meet at the request of the Secretary.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>The advisory council shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>On request by a producer or producer responsibility organization, provide advice regarding the drafting or amending of a producer responsibility plan required under § 9–2505 of this subtitle;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Receive and review the producer responsibility plans submitted in accordance with § 9–2505 of this subtitle;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Receive and review annual reports submitted in accordance with  § 9–2509 of this subtitle;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Make recommendations to the Department regarding producer responsibility plan approval;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Make recommendations to the Department and producer responsibility organizations regarding producer responsibility plan implementation; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Provide written recommendations regarding the producer responsibility plan, including any update or revision to an approved plan, to a producer responsibility organization before the producer responsibility organization submits the plan to the Department.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
