Wisconsin Newsprint Publishers Look To Ease Content Levels

A bill that would partially roll back the mandated recycled-content newsprint levels for publishers in the state of Wisconsin has taken the first step for passage.

The bill, A.B. 365, was initially introduced this past May. The act aimed to amend statutes related to the recycled-content levels. Under current law, publishers in the state are required to pay a recycled fee based on the volume of newsprint used, unless the newsprint on which the paper is printed contains a specified minimum percentage of post-consumer recovered fiber.

At the present time all newspaper publishers are required to use newsprint with a minimum of 37 percent recycled content level. According to existing law, that would then increase to 40 percent by 2003.

The goal of the bill would be to cap the recycled-content level at 33 percent with no future increases.

Sandra George, executive director of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, said the average recycled content available from the six paper mills closest to Wisconsin was dropping to 21 percent. She said state newspapers have voluntarily exceeded mandates whenever possible, including using 25 percent recycled content paper when the requirement was 10%.

George points out that a number of the newsprint suppliers that used to service publishers in the state have stopped producing newsprint, increasing the overall costs to purchase the paper.

Because most recycled content mills are closer to major urban centers, George said the mills were reluctant to ship to Wisconsin unless they were paid more to cover transportation costs.

While initially introduced this past spring, A.B. 365 came up for a vote in the state assembly yesterday, Oct. 30th, with the assembly voting to have the bill continue to a full vote.

To pass into law the bill would need to be passed by both the state assembly and the state Senate.