Rep. Don O’Brien introduces short-form bill to require compostable produce PLU stickers

Representative Don O’Brien, Benton Ridge, House Agriculture Committee, introduced a short-form bill, H478, to require price-lookup (PLU) stickers on produce to be compostable.

O’Brien told the committee he filed the measure partly out of frustration with noncompostable sticker material and adhesives, saying, “I am introducing the short form bill h 4 78. It's an acroleating to requiring price lookup stickers on produce be compostable.” He described PLU stickers as “essentially a forever plastic stuck to our produce” and urged the committee to explore compostable alternatives used elsewhere.

Why it matters: Vermont and some other jurisdictions require separation or composting of food scraps; noncompostable stickers can contaminate those streams or be picked up by backyard animals, attendees said. Committee members raised practical questions about supply, durability and whether currently available compostable labels break down quickly enough for composting operations.

Committee discussion focused on three issues. First, technical feasibility: O’Brien and others said alternatives exist overseas and in some packaging—paper labels and food-grade adhesives were suggested—but several speakers urged the committee to investigate performance and decomposition rates. O’Brien noted the European Union and France are moving to restrict such stickers, and asked staff to work with bill drafters and producers. He said, “if we can prove there's a, you know, a safe way to or or a compostable way to do this, why not?”

Second, producer and retailer impacts: speakers anticipated pushback from grocers and asked whether the Grocers Association or produce suppliers would support changes. The committee discussed that self-checkout systems and store workflows use PLU codes and whether stickers could be eliminated on some items instead of replaced with different labels.

Third, composting and operational concerns: Tom Gilbert of Black Dirt Farm was reported to have expressed reservations about some compostable stickers tried elsewhere, saying they “may not compost rapidly.” Committee members characterized that as a solvable technical issue but one that merits testing before a broad requirement is imposed.

No formal motion or vote on H478 was recorded at the meeting. Members recommended follow-up work: consulting producers and composters, defining “compostable” for the statute or rule, and testing alternatives for durability and breakdown in local composting conditions. O’Brien also suggested the bill could include an option to omit stickers where they are not necessary, saying the committee “might even be able to add something that says when you really don't need it, you know, do without.”

The committee did not set a deadline for next steps at the meeting; staff and representatives discussed scheduling producer testimony and technical review.

Ending: The discussion closed with agreement to pursue technical follow-up rather than immediate enactment; no votes were taken on H478 at this session.