New Year's Day brought much more than 2008. Several new state laws and local ordinances regarding the environment also took effect on January 1. Some of the new laws as of Tuesday include:
-Maine retailers must accept used cell phones for recycling
-North Carolina businesses that sell alcohol must recycle beverage containers
-Oregon is including fuel-saving guidelines in its drivers manual, which will be included on future tests for new drivers
-The city of Chicago sales tax on bottled water increased by five cents
-Illinois mandated energy-efficient light bulbs in buildings larger than 1,000 square feet
-Minnesota banned mercury in everything from new stoves and barometers to over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and toiletries
New Laws for Connecticut after Jan. 1 include:
-Expanding a temporary state sales tax exemption for passenger cars that get at least 40 miles per gallon to all passenger trucks and vans with the same fuel efficiency. The exemption runs from Jan. 1 of this year to July 1, 2010.
-The state's secretary of the Office of Policy and Management must prepare a plan to encourage the use of biodiesel heating oil blends in state buildings and facilities.
-A new rebate program will be established for residential electric customers who replace their old air conditioners with ones that meet federal Energy Star efficiency standards. The rebates range from $25 to $100 for room air conditioners, depending on the cost, and at least $500 for residents who replace a central air unit. The program runs until Sept. 1, 2008.
-Each car or light-duty truck in the state's fleet must have a fuel efficiency rating in the top third of vehicles in its class. And between Jan. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2009, at least 50 percent of the state's purchased vehicles must be alternative-fueled, hybrid, electric or plug-in electric vehicles. It must be 100 percent starting Jan. 1, 2010.
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