Environment (Recycling)

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 840: Relating to: certain requirements related to data centers.

AB 840 regulates data centers in the state by requiring specific operational and environmental standards. It mandates that data centers use closed-loop cooling systems (recycling water instead of using fresh water) and report annual water usage to the department. The bill also requires renewable energy facilities serving data centers to be located on-site and prohibits utility customers from paying for data center infrastructure costs. Additionally, operators must provide financial bonds for construction and restore land if projects are abandoned. These provisions directly affect all data center operators and developers in the state.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates on-site renewable energy facilities for data centers, directly promoting clean energy adoption and infrastructure requirements.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates closed-loop cooling (water conservation) and on-site renewable energy for data centers, directly advancing environmental protection standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Recycling

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 893: Relating to: grants for regional biodigesters, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 893 creates a $250,000 annual grant program from the environmental fund to support planning for regional biodigesters. These facilities convert organic waste (like food scraps or farm byproducts) into energy, primarily benefiting agricultural and waste management projects. The bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture to administer the grants and develop rules for their use. It does not fund construction but focuses on initial planning phases for new biodigester facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $250,000 annually from environmental fund for biodigester planning grants, directly funding a specific program through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyFunds planning for biodigesters converting organic waste to renewable energy, advancing clean energy infrastructure and waste-to-energy projects.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds planning for biodigesters converting organic waste to energy, reducing landfill methane emissions and supporting renewable energy projects via environmental fund appropriation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Recycling Waste Management

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 895: Relating to: funding for a battery collection and recycling program and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 895 creates a new funding mechanism for Wisconsin's battery collection and recycling program by directing existing fees collected from battery sales (under section 287.175 (3) (b)) to the environmental fund. This bill specifically allocates those moneys to support the program's operations, directly affecting the state's battery recycling efforts and the environmental fund. The law requires that the program be implemented using these redirected fees, without creating new taxes or fees. The bill's effectiveness depends on either Assembly Bill 713 or Senate Bill 702 being enacted during the 2025-26 legislative session.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects existing battery sales fees to environmental fund for recycling program, using current revenue without new taxes, aligning with fiscal responsibility and funding essential programs.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyFunds battery recycling program, supporting clean energy infrastructure lifecycle management as part of environmental protection efforts.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRedirects existing battery sales fees to environmental fund for recycling program, preventing pollution from improper disposal and strengthening waste management efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Energy Storage Recycling

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signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 2, 2026

AB 911: Relating to: funding for a battery collection and recycling program and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 911 creates a new funding mechanism to support a battery collection and recycling program by directing existing environmental fund monies (from statute 287.175 (3) (b)) toward this purpose. The bill specifically allocates funds already designated for battery recycling under current law, without creating new taxes or fees. It only takes effect if two other related bills (AB 713 or SB 702) are not enacted during the 2025-26 legislative session. This funding directly supports the operational costs of the state’s battery recycling program, primarily affecting program administrators and participating recyclers.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyFunds battery recycling program, supporting clean energy infrastructure lifecycle and sustainable energy storage systems.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates existing environmental funds to battery recycling program, directly supporting pollution control and resource conservation per statute 287.175(3)(b).92% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Storage Recycling

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 2, 2026

AB 713: Relating to: requiring battery stewardship organizations to administer battery collection and recycling programs and providing a penalty. (FE)

AB 713 requires battery producers (like manufacturers or brands selling batteries) to fund and manage collection and recycling programs starting in 2027. It bans disposal of covered batteries (portable/medium-sized batteries excluding medical devices, lead-acid, or alkaline types) in landfills after January 1, 2028, mandating they be returned through designated collection sites instead. Producers must also mark batteries with their identity by 2027 and indicate battery chemistry for proper recycling by 2029. This law directly affects battery sellers and manufacturers, shifting responsibility for recycling programs from consumers or local governments to the producers themselves.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates battery recycling programs, supporting clean energy infrastructure through sustainable battery lifecycle management and reducing landfill waste from energy storage devices.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans landfill disposal of batteries, mandates recycling programs, reduces pollution, and promotes resource conservation per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Storage Recycling

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 772: Relating to: packaging reduction and recycling, creating a producer responsibility program, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty.

AB 772 requires companies that sell packaged products (called "producers") to pay fees to fund recycling programs. It creates a "producer responsibility program" where businesses must cover costs for reducing packaging waste and ensuring packaging is recyclable or made with post-consumer recycled materials. The bill defines key terms like "recyclable" (must sort easily and have market demand) and "post-consumer recycled material" (recovered from consumer waste, excluding advanced recycling methods). This directly affects manufacturers, brands, importers, and retailers selling packaged goods in the state, with fees collected by a nonprofit organization to support statewide recycling infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates producer fees to fund recycling programs via appropriation, directly creating new budgetary funding for environmental initiatives.92% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates producer-funded recycling programs, reduces packaging waste, requires recyclable packaging with market demand, and promotes post-consumer recycled materials, directly advancing environmental protection and pollution control.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Recycling

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 779: Relating to: prohibiting food and beverages from being served in foam polystyrene packaging and providing a penalty. (FE)

SB 779 prohibits restaurants, food vendors, and vending machine operators from serving food or beverages in foam polystyrene packaging (like takeout containers), effective 13 months after publication. Exemptions include pre-sealed containers from outside the state and packaging for raw meat, poultry, fish, or seafood. Violations after 90 days of written notice incur a $250 penalty, increasing to $500 for subsequent offenses after 180 days. The bill directly affects retail food businesses operating in the state, with limited waivers available for undue hardship. It creates a clear policy change to reduce foam polystyrene waste without specifying environmental outcomes.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans polystyrene packaging, a persistent plastic pollutant, reducing environmental contamination from single-use food containers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 702: Relating to: requiring battery stewardship organizations to administer battery collection and recycling programs and providing a penalty. (FE)

SB 702 requires producers of covered batteries (like portable and medium-sized rechargeable batteries that can be easily removed) to fund and manage recycling programs through designated "battery stewardship organizations." Starting January 1, 2027, producers must mark batteries with their brand and, by January 1, 2029, include chemistry details for proper recycling. Consumers cannot dispose of covered batteries in regular trash after January 1, 2028, and must instead use designated collection sites. The bill excludes medical device batteries, lead-acid batteries, and certain alkaline batteries from these requirements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates producer-funded battery recycling, bans landfill disposal, and requires chemistry labeling to reduce toxic waste and conserve resources, directly advancing environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling Waste Management

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 782: Relating to: prohibiting food and beverages from being served in foam polystyrene packaging and providing a penalty. (FE)

AB 782 bans restaurants and food vendors from serving food or beverages in foam polystyrene containers, directly affecting retail food businesses like restaurants, cafes, and vending machine operators. The bill includes exemptions for containers pre-sealed outside the state and raw meat/fish packaging for off-premise consumption. Businesses violating the ban after receiving written notice face fines up to $250 for the first offense and $500 for repeated violations. A waiver may be granted for undue hardship, but it cannot extend beyond 13 months after the effective date. The law aims to reduce single-use plastic waste while allowing limited exceptions for practical food handling needs.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans polluting foam polystyrene packaging, reducing plastic waste and ocean pollution, aligning with environmental protection goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 778: Relating to: packaging reduction and recycling, creating a producer responsibility program, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty.

SB 778 creates a mandatory producer responsibility program requiring businesses that package products sold in the state (like retailers, restaurants, and manufacturers) to fund recycling and packaging reduction efforts. It establishes fees paid by "producers" (including brands, importers, and manufacturers) to a new packaging reduction organization, which will manage recycling programs and track recycled content. The bill defines "recyclable" packaging as materials that can be consistently processed for reuse, excludes advanced recycling methods from this definition, and sets requirements for packaging reduction goals. This replaces voluntary recycling with a structured system where producers directly finance waste management, affecting all businesses selling packaged goods within the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates producer fees and makes an appropriation to fund recycling programs, directly allocating state budget resources toward environmental initiatives.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates producer-funded recycling and packaging reduction, directly targeting waste pollution and resource conservation through mandatory fees and recycled content tracking.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Recycling Waste Management

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