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Vermont

Despite its small size, Vermont has been a leader in taking action to protect its citizens from exposure to toxic chemicals. Over the past decade, the state has restricted the use of toxic flame retardants such as chlorinated Tris and Deca in certain consumer products. Vermont was also out front on banning toxic phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), mercury, and lead in children's and other consumer products. 

In 2021, Vermont went above and beyond by adopting a nation-leading bill that restricts the sale of consumer products that contain toxic chemicals known as PFAS. The bill bans PFAS chemicals from firefighting foam, food packaging, ski wax, and carpets, rugs, and stain-resistant treatments. This ground-breaking policy sends a strong message to the chemical industry and manufacturers that PFAS chemicals have no place in our products. 

In addition, Vermont was one of the first states in the nation to adopt drinking water standards for certain PFAS chemicals and to list these PFAS chemicals as hazardous waste.

vermont

Vermont Partners

State Progress

Bill Tracker for Vermont

Current Policy

Formaldehyde ,
Chemical Prioritization / Disclosure / Phase-out ,
Toxic Chemicals General,
PFAS ,
BPA, Phthalates, and Chemicals Used in Plastic ,
Chemicals used in Cleaning, Cosmetics and Construction
H.152: Prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution of apparel, cookware, paper products, and pesticides containing PFAS by 2024. Prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution of cosmetic products containing certain chemicals and chemical classes by 2026. Prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution of all products containing PFAS by 2030.
Chemical Prioritization / Disclosure / Phase-out ,
PFAS ,
Chemicals used in Cleaning, Cosmetics and Construction
S.D.S.25: Prohibit the manufacture, sale, and distribution of cosmetic and menstrual products containing certain chemicals and chemical classes. Prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution in Vermont of textiles containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Prohibits the installation of any new athletic turf field containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
PFAS
S.82: Establishes a committee to study the impacts of PFAS in leachate from landfills.
PFAS
H.421: Requires the Secretary of Natural Resources to amend the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Water Supply Rule to establish a maximum contaminant level of zero parts per trillion for the following PFAS substances: perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid, perfluorononanoic acid, perfluoroheptanoic acid, and perfluorodecanoic acid.
PFAS
H.422: Establishes a committee to study the impacts of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in leachate from landfills.
PFAS
H.50: Prohibits the labeling of consumer products that contain PFAS as compostable.
PFAS
H.494: Appropriations bill. Includes $1 million for PFAS technical assistance and $5 million for statewide PFAS groundwater remediation.

Adopted Policy

BPA, Phthalates, and Chemicals Used in Plastic
S 261: Bans phthalates from children’s products, and specifies that they can’t be replaced with known or possible carcinogens. (Adopted in 2008)
Chemical Prioritization / Disclosure / Phase-out ,
PFAS ,
BPA, Phthalates, and Chemicals Used in Plastic ,
Heavy Metals ,
Chemicals used in Cleaning, Cosmetics and Construction
S 239: Establishes a process for identifying chemicals of high concern; prohibits sale or distribution of consumer products containing priority chemicals. (Adopted in 2014)
BPA, Phthalates, and Chemicals Used in Plastic ,
Food Packaging
S 247: Bans BPA from formula and baby food jars, as well as all reusable food and beverage containers. (Adopted in 2010)
Chemical Prioritization / Disclosure / Phase-out ,
Toxic Chemicals General
S 55: Creates Interagency Committee on Chemical Management and empowers it to list chemicals of high concern and restrict the sale or require labeling of products containing those chemicals. (Adopted in 2019)
Chemicals used in Cleaning, Cosmetics and Construction
S 92: Requires schools to purchase and use green cleaning products. (Adopted in 2012)
PFAS ,
Food Packaging
S 20: An act relating to restrictions on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and other chemicals of concern in consumer products. (Adopted in 2021)
Lead ,
Heavy Metals
S 152: Bans the manufacture and sale of any children’s product containing lead. (Adopted in 2008)
Lead ,
Mercury ,
Heavy Metals
S 77: Requires manufacturers to implement and fund a system for the collection and recycling of electronic devices containing lead, mercury, and other hazardous substances. (Adopted in 2010)
Mercury ,
Heavy Metals
H 515: Prohibits the disposal of mercury-added products in a solid waste landfill or combustor. Requires any contractor who replaces a mercury containing thermostat from a building to deliver it to an appropriate collection location for recycling. Requires manufacturers who have sold mercury thermostats to submit a plan for a collection and financial incentive program for mercury thermostats. Restricts the sale of mercury-containing thermostats. (Adopted in 2008)
Mercury ,
Heavy Metals
Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 10 §§ 7101-7115: Restricts the sale of mercury-added novelties, thermostats, thermometers, or elemental mercury, mercury switches and relays. Requires labeling on all mercury-added products sold. Prohibits the disposal of mercury-added products as solid waste. Requires a motor vehicle recycler to remove mercury-added vehicle switches prior to crushing, shredding, or other scrap metal processing. Prohibits elemental mercury, chemicals containing mercury or mercury compounds, or mercury-added measuring devices for the use in schools. Requires an amalgam separator system to be installed in dental offices. Requires hospitals to submit a mercury reduction plan. (Adopted in 2005)
Mercury ,
Heavy Metals
S 34: Requires manufacturers of mercury-containing lamps implement a collection and disposal program. (Adopted in 2011)
PFAS
S 10: Creates liability and penalties for contaminating water supplies with perfluorinated chemicals. (Adopted in 2017)
PFAS
H 740: Appropriations bill. Includes allocating $420,000 for the purchase of laboratory equipment to test for PFAS in drinking water to support public health testing requirements. (Adopted in 2022)
PFAS
H.145: Appropriations bill. Provides $3 million to the Department of Environmental Conservation for PFAS remediation. (Adopted in 2023)
PFAS
H 446: Requires state department to conduct a study on microplastics and PFAS in food packaging and food waste. (Adopted in 2022)
PFAS
S 49: Sets Maximum Contaminant Levels for 5 PFAS chemicals in water of 20ppt each and cumulatively, requires testing for PFAS chemicals, and requires landfills to treat leachate to remove PFAS chemicals. (Adopted in 2019)
PFAS
S.73: Requires the Director of the Division of Fire Safety to submit a report on the projected cost for the state to fund cancer screenings for all career and volunteer firefighters and replace all personal protective equipment. (Adopted in 2023)
PFAS
H 955: Appropriates $550k to improve public water systems contaminated with PFAS, and $50k to reimburse schools with contaminated water who must utilize alternate water supplies. (Adopted in 2020)
Toxic Chemicals General,
PFAS
S 113: Establishes a cause of action for medical monitoring expenses.  (Adopted in 2022)
Toxic Chemicals General
H.67: Requires manufacturers of household products containing hazardous substances to implement an approved collection plan. (Adopted in 2023)
Toxic Flame Retardants
S 81 : Bans the flame retardants OctaBDE and PentaBDE from all products, bans the sale of mattresses and furniture with decaBDE, and bans Tris (TCEP & TDCPP) from children’s products and furniture. (Adopted in 2013)
Toxic Flame Retardants
H 444 / S 109: Bans the flame retardants octaBDE and pentaBDE from all products, and decaBDE from certain home products (mattresses and pads, residential furniture, televisions and computers). Prohibits a manufacturer from replacing decaBDE with a known or suspected carcinogen, or a chemical identified by the U.S. EPA as causing birth defects, hormone disruption, or harm to reproduction or development. (Adopted in 2009)

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