(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. (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. (c) On or after October 1, 2018, a person may not sell in the State a film plastic product labeled as soil ble labeling guidelines in the federal Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims. (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.
Maryland Legal Code