TITLE 12 CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Section 8. Waste Management, 12-8-1 through 12-8-210.

ARTICLE 7 PRODUCT PACKAGING

12-8-160. Legislative findings and declarations.

The General Assembly finds and declares 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 solid waste stream;
3. The presence of heavy metals in packaging is a concern in light of the likely presence of heavy metals in emissions or ash when packaging is incinerated or in leachate when packaging is landfilled;
4. Lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium, on the basis of available scientific and medical evidence, are of particular concern;
5. It is desirable as a first step in reducing the toxicity of packaging waste to eliminate the addition of heavy metals to packaging; and
6. It is desirable to achieve reduction in toxicity without impeding or discouraging the expanded use of postconsumer materials in the production of packaging and its components.

(Code 1981, §12-8-160, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 2968, § 1.)