§ 7185. Annual report; collection plan audit

(a) Annual report. Not later than 18 months after the date a collection plan has been implemented, and annually thereafter, a stewardship organization of manufacturers of covered household hazardous products shall submit a report to the Secretary that contains all of the following:

(1) A description of the collection program.

(2) The volume or weight by hazard category, as defined by the Secretary, of covered household hazardous products collected, the volume or weight of covered household hazardous products collected at each collection facility or collection event, the disposition of the collected covered household hazardous products, and the number of covered entities participating at each collection facility or collection event from which the covered household hazardous products were collected.

(3) The name and address of all the recycling and disposal facilities where the covered household hazardous products are collected and delivered and deposited.

(4) The weight or volume by hazard category of covered household hazardous products sold in the State in the previous calendar year by a manufacturer participating in a stewardship organization’s collection plan. Sales data provided under this section shall be exempt from public inspection and copying under the Public Records Act and shall be kept confidential. Confidential information shall be redacted from any final public report. If manufacturers can demonstrate that they do not have Vermont specific data, the stewardship organization may use national data prorated to Vermont based upon Vermont’s population.

(5) A comparison of the collection plan’s performance goals, including participation rate, compared to the actual performance and how the program will be improved if the performance goals are not met.

(6) A description of the methods used to reduce, reuse, collect, transport, recycle, and process the covered household hazardous products.

(7) The cost of implementing the collection plan, including the costs of administration, collection, transportation, recycling, disposal, and education and outreach.

(8) A description and evaluation of the success of the education and outreach materials. If multiple stewardship organizations are implementing the collection plan approved by the Secretary, the stewardship organizations shall include a summary of their coordinated education and outreach efforts.

(9) Recommendations for any changes to the program.

(b) Collection plan audit. On or before September 1, 2030 and every five years thereafter, a stewardship organization of manufacturers of covered household hazardous products shall hire an independent third party to audit the collection plan and the plan’s operation. The auditor shall examine the effectiveness of the program in collecting and disposing of covered household hazardous products. The auditor shall examine the cost-effectiveness of the program and compare it to that of collection programs for covered household hazardous products in other jurisdictions. The auditor shall examine the effectiveness of the plan in satisfying the requirement of this chapter that all Vermonters have convenient and reasonable access to collection facilities or collection events. The auditor shall make recommendations to the Secretary on ways to increase the program’s efficacy and cost-effectiveness.

(c) Public posting. A stewardship organization shall post a report or audit required under this section to the website of the stewardship organization. (Added 2023, No. 58, § 2, eff. June 12, 2023.)