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§ 9-2102. Labeling of plastic products or film plastic products as biodegradeable, degradable, ...

West's Annotated Code of MarylandEnvironmentEffective: October 1, 2017

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Environment
Title 9. Water, Ice, & Sanitary Facilities (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 21. Plastic Products (Refs & Annos)
Effective: October 1, 2017
MD Code, Environment, § 9-2102
§ 9-2102. Labeling of plastic products or film plastic products as biodegradeable, degradable, decomposable or decompostable
Biodegradeable, degradable, or decomposable
(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, on or after October 1, 2018, a person may not sell in the State a plastic product that is labeled as biodegradable, degradable, decomposable, or with any other term to imply that the product will break down, fragment, biodegrade, or decompose in a landfill or any other environment.
Compostable or home compostable
(b) On or after October 1, 2018, a person may not sell in the State a plastic product that is labeled as compostable or home compostable unless the plastic product meets the following standards:
(1) For a plastic product labeled as compostable, the plastic product shall meet:
(i) 1. The ASTM D6400 standard specification; or
2. The ASTM D6868 standard specification; and
(ii) Any applicable labeling guidelines in the federal Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims.
(2) For a plastic product labeled as home compostable, the plastic product shall meet:
(i) The OK Compost Home certification standard adopted by Vincotte; and
(ii) Any applicable labeling guidelines in the federal Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims.
Soil degradable ag mulch film or biodegradable mulch film
(c) On or after October 1, 2018, a person may not sell in the State a film plastic product labeled as soil degradable ag mulch film or biodegradable mulch film unless the product:
(1)(i) Meets the OK Biodegradable Soil certification standard adopted by Vincotte; or
(ii) At ambient temperatures and in soil, shows at least 90% biodegradation absolute or relative to microcrystalline cellulose in less than 2 years' time, tested according to the ISO 17556 standard test method or ASTM D5988 standard test method; and
(2) Fulfills the plant growth and regulated metals requirements under section 6.4 of the ASTM D6400 standard specification.

Credits

Added by Acts 2017, c. 374, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2017.
MD Code, Environment, § 9-2102, MD ENVIR § 9-2102
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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