Rep. Butler files bill in North Carolina House to regulate packaging producers

A new bill filed by State Rep. Butler in the North Carolina House seeks to hold packaging producers accountable for waste reduction and recycling efforts in the state, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 882 on April 9 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Break Free From Plastic & Forever Chemicals.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill establishes extended producer responsibility (EPR) for certain producers of packaging materials in North Carolina, mandating that responsible producers register with the Department of Environmental Quality, participate in an approved producer responsibility organization (PRO), and meet specific reduction, recycling, and postconsumer waste content requirements for non-reusable packaging. It outlines the structure and fees for PROs and stipulates requirements for reducing packaging waste and increasing recycling rates over specified timelines. Additionally, the bill bans the manufacture and distribution of packaging materials containing certain toxic substances, namely PFAS and other harmful chemicals. Further prohibitions are introduced on covered products with intentionally added PFAS, including food packaging, emphasizing the need for manufacturers to certify compliance. It also provides appropriations for implementation and sets penalties for non-compliance, taking effect from October 1, 2025.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Pricey Harrison proposed the most bills (48) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Butler graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1983 with a BA and again in 1986 from Wake Forest University School of Law with a JD.

Butler, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2017 to represent the state’s 18th House district, replacing previous state representative Susi Hamilton.