A. The General Assembly finds 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 waste stream;
3. The presence of heavy metals in packaging is a concern because of the potential presence of heavy metals in residue from manufacturers' recycling processes, in emissions or ash when packaging is incinerated, or in leachate when packaging is landfilled; and
4. Lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium, on the basis of scientific and medical evidence, are of particular concern.
B. It is the intent of the General Assembly to:
1. Reduce the toxicity of packaging;
2. Eliminate the addition of heavy metals to packaging; and
3. Achieve reductions in toxicity without impeding or discouraging the expanded use of recovered material in the production of products, packaging, and its components.
1994, c. 944.