Thanks to you and other EPR professionals, the Extended Producer Responsibility movement continues to grow! This year there were 53 unique bills to establish or amend an EPR program that were introduced, covering 15 products in 17 states and D.C. Of these, we enacted four new laws, including two first-in-the-nation laws—household hazardous waste in Vermont and tires in Connecticut. We also saw Washington state enact an EPR law for batteries and Illinois enact an EPR law for paint. Another successful year for EPR in the books! These achievements have been a long time coming – since 2001, PSI has spearheaded product stewardship programs, leading to the enactment of 135 laws across 18 product categories in 33 states. 

PSI also hosted our 12th national Product Stewardship Forum in September, which brought together globally recognized experts to make strides in the most important topics in producer responsibility policy and programs. At the forum, we highlighted the new book by Scott Cassel, PSI’s CEO and Founder, entitled Perspectives on Product Stewardship: Navigating an extended producer responsibility path to a circular economy (Bernan Press, 2023), a must-read for all EPR professionals! 

As we enter the holiday season, PSI is ready to continue to forge ahead on new challenges. But we need your help! With increased demand in an ever-expanding field, it is crucial for PSI to expand our staff capacity to meet emerging challenges. PSI is a small, highly skilled nonprofit (501c3) with a robust network, and we depend on the generosity of donors like you to make investments in sound EPR policies. We know that many organizations will request your support this season, but we hope that when it comes to annual giving, you will also consider PSI. Thank you! 

The Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act, previously introduced in 2020 and 2021, was recently reintroduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA). The Act would create a nationwide deposit return system, standardize labels for recycling and composting bins, and establish a nationwide EPR for packaging program, which was based on PSI’s packaging EPR model. In addition to these original provisions, updates to the legislation include a requirement for all beverage containers to be reusable, recyclable or compostable, stronger language on eliminating toxic substances in beverage containers, and stricter post-consumer recycled content requirements for beverage containers. 

Last month, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law California’s Right to Repair Act, which improves access to electronics repair resources for consumers and repair shops in the state. California’s law is the fourth of its kind, joining New York, Colorado, and Minnesota. Notably, Apple and HP publicly endorsed SB 244, which will go into effect in July 2024. 

Yesterday, the District of Columbia and Call2Recycle, Inc. launched the nation’s first broad scope recycling program for batteries, which allows consumers in Washington D.C. to safely recycle both single-use and rechargeable household batteries at convenient drop-off locations. The program was established by an EPR law originally enacted in 2021 and amended in January of this year. PSI staff worked closely with the Council of the District of Columbia to provide technical support and help develop the legislation. Read more in the Call2Recycle, Inc. press release.

PERSPECTIVES ON PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP:

Navigating an extended producer

responsibility path to a circular economy

by Scott Cassel, CEO and Founder of PSI

If you are a PSI Member or Partner,

contact [email protected] for 30% discount.

Four years in the making, the book that PSI’s CEO and Founder, Scott Cassel, has written on EPR and product stewardship is now in print and available!

The book covers Scott’s personal journey in the recycling field from volunteer to government official and to the creation of PSI. It provides his perspective on why a change to the U.S. recycling system was desperately needed and how PSI and numerous others translated policy concepts into EPR laws. It also contains the process that PSI uses to create effective EPR laws through collaborative stakeholder engagement.

Scott discusses the first two decades of the EPR movement in the U.S., where we are now in the journey, and expected trends for the future. It outlines the basic principles of product stewardship and EPR, along with the roles played by each stakeholder group. And it traces the origin of the concept of responsibility, how it was incorporated into the environmental and EPR movements, and the reaction to it by corporations and others. The book also covers the major EPR laws developed in Europe and Canada that have provided the foundation for EPR laws in the U.S. It references many of the 25 product categories on which PSI works, with three in-depth case studies—on paint, batteries, and packaging.  

This book is a must-read for all EPR professionals!

“Unwrapping” the documentary is the third project of Packplay, a research and creation workshop stemmed from a partnership between the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ) since 2014. In 2017, Sylvain Allard, Graphic Design professor at the UQAM and Geneviève Dionne, Director of Ecodesign and Circular Economy at ÉEQ, co-wrote a book called: Do We Really Need Another Package?

“Unwrapping” was the authors’ next step to present a more nuanced discussion surrounding packaging and increase awareness of packaging ecodesign and the role and importance of the design process. “Unwrapping” looks to shed light on the complex system behind packaging and understand and rethink its roles.

The documentary raises consumer awareness about responsible and conscious consumption choices as well as their role in successful end-of-life management over packaging. Additionally, it offers a great way to engage producers and brands owners to go further by recognizing their impacts on the consumers of their products. 

The editor of Plastics News published an opinion piece on the benefits and drawbacks of packaging, inspired by ÉEQ’s premier of the English version of “Unwrapping” at PSI’s U.S. Product Stewardship Forum.  

Resource Recycling published an article on the “The PRO’s Role in Advancing the Circular Economy” session from PSI’s U.S. Product Stewardship Forum.

Plastics News (paywalled) published an article about the Packaging EPR Implementation in the United States session from PSI’s U.S. Product Stewardship Forum.

November 7, 11:30am EST, Webinar – Reverse Logistics Group, a PSI Partner, will be hosting a webinar next week on “How to Prepare Packaging Data for Upcoming US EPR Reporting.” Register here. 

The Surfrider Foundation, in partnership with the Plastic Pollution Coalition, launched the Global Plastic Laws Database ahead of the UN Plastics Treaty set to take place in Kenya next month. The database is an extensive tool to be used to research and track plastic legislation introduced across the world. Read more.

The Yukon Government recently passed an amendment to its Environment Act, a crucial step to fully implement EPR across the territory. Read more.  

With the issue of vape disposal on the rise, many solutions are being discussed, including EPR. Read more.  

As a leader in EPR laws in the U.S., California has continued to make legislative strides. A “roundup” on 2023 legislation in the state shows progress towards a circular economy. Read more. 

The Circular Innovation Council and Circular Economy Leadership Canada recently released the Circular Economy Action Plan for Cananda which acts as a guide for stakeholders to participate in and support the circular economy. Read more. 

WE'RE HIRING!

Interested? Apply! Or help us spread the word. Please share the following information on these exciting new roles with those in your network who might be interested in joining our dedicated team of environmental stewards.

Policy and Program Manager: We are seeking a passionate, environmental policy enthusiast with experience in EPR and materials management programs, strong project management, and leadership skills to join our organization, which is leading the producer responsibility movement in the US. Join our team!



Marketing and Communications Coordinator: We are seeking an energetic and talented person with a passion for waste reduction and recycling policy and a talent for storytelling and advocacy to join our organization, which is leading the producer responsibility movement in the US. Join our team!

The Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC), a PSI Partner, recently announced a second contractor for ACRC collection and recycling service in the state of California, Ag Plastic Recycling. 

EPA plans to propose a new rule to improve end-of-life management for hazardous waste solar panels and lithium batteries. Read more. 

The Vermont Paint Stewardship Program Plan, which was submitted by PaintCare in July, was approved last month. View the approved plan here. 

The Product Stewardship Institute is a policy advocate and consulting 501(c)(3) nonprofit that powers the emerging circular economy. We rely on the generosity of our members, partners, and supporters to convene diverse stakeholders to build extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies, programs, and laws. Thank you!

The Product Stewardship Institute, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Persons with disabilities who require alternatively formatted materials to ensure effective communication should contact Amanda Nicholson at [email protected] or 617.236.4855.