Vermont § 7185 - Annual report; collection plan audit

§ 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.)