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Product Stewardship Updates
May 12, 2025
| | COUNTDOWN TO THE 2025 PSI FORUM:
WE’RE LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY! | | |
The clock is ticking! We’re just one month out from the 2025 U.S. Product Stewardship Forum, taking place June 3-5 at the Westin Chicago North Shore. This is not just another conference – it’s the most important event of the year for anyone serious about EPR, circular economy, and producer responsibility
With EPR momentum literally exploding across states and sectors, this Forum arrives at a critical moment. Hear from top voices shaping the future of packaging, paint, batteries, HHW, textiles, and other business sectors. Connect with leaders across industry, government, and advocacy. And help celebrate 25 years of impact as PSI marks a major milestone.
Today is the day to secure your spot—you don’t want to miss this!
| | PSI IS HIRING: SENIOR ASSOCIATE FOR POLICY & PROGRAMS | | |
PSI is hiring a Senior Associate to support and lead key EPR policy and programmatic work. We’re looking for an experienced project manager and facilitator with a background in materials management.
This is a great opportunity to join a fast-paced, mission-driven team at the forefront of producer responsibility.
| | PRODUCT SAFETY OP-ED CALLS FOR ACTION | | |
Fires and explosions caused by lithium-ion batteries and other hazardous products are endangering waste workers and recycling infrastructure across the country. In response, PSI co-signed a powerful new call for action and coordination on product safety led by our partner, Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), calling on policymakers and manufacturers to take responsibility.
The op-ed, published in Waste Today, Recycling Today, and Waste Advantage, urges design changes, better labeling, consumer education, and end-of-life management for consumer products with high fire or explosion risks.
| | MASSACHUSETTS EPR COMMISSION LAUNCHES WITH PSI SUPPORT | | Scott Cassel, PSI CEO, presents on EPR to the Massachusetts EPR Commission (Cole Rosengren / Waste Dive) | | |
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) officially launched a new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Commission—created by the Massachusetts Legislature—to study and recommend policy approaches for managing a range of waste streams. Commission members were appointed by both the Legislature and MassDEP, ensuring a balanced mix of perspectives from across sectors.
The Commission's early focus will include paint, mattresses, and lithium-ion batteries, with additional materials such as electronics, plastics, and other packaging to be evaluated in future sessions.
MassDEP invited PSI CEO Scott Cassel to provide an overview of EPR policy in the United States at the inaugural meeting on April 14. Scott’s presentation drew from PSI’s more than two decades of policy development and program implementation experience and covered the origins of EPR, definition of EPR, EPR laws and programs in the U.S., elements of EPR policy, key stakeholder interests, and policy development and implementation strategies. PSI will also provide background materials on EPR for each product / waste stream in advance of each meeting.
As explained in a recent Waste Dive article, the Commission is “tasked with reviewing existing EPR programs across the country, identifying which products might be suitable for Massachusetts to include, and submitting a report of recommendations to the legislature by July 2026.” The effort is part of a growing trend among states exploring comprehensive EPR strategies that better align recycling costs with producer accountability.
The Commission brings together stakeholders from government, industry, and the nonprofit sector to guide a collaborative, data-informed approach to modernizing materials management in the Commonwealth.
| | U.S. PLASTICS PACT RELEASES PCR FRAMEWORK | | |
As a proud Activator of the U.S. Plastics Pact, PSI welcomes the release of its new national framework on post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. The April 2025 report outlines standardized definitions, measurement tools, and implementation pathways to guide brands and policymakers in increasing the use of PCR materials.
This framework provides much-needed alignment on PCR targets and references baseline data for key materials, which is critical for setting realistic and achievable goals. By offering a data-informed foundation, it supports policymakers and stakeholders in shaping EPR legislation that reflects current market conditions. The report also provides guidance for improving material circularity through clearer product design standards and more consistent reporting practices. It further emphasizes the importance of collaboration across the plastics value chain to achieve shared environmental outcomes.
As a contributing partner, PSI supports the Pact’s mission to build a circular economy for plastics in the U.S. and will continue to advocate for policies and practices that align with its key outcomes.
| | MARYLAND AND WASHINGTON ADVANCE PACKAGING EPR | | |
Two more states are moving the needle on packaging producer responsibility. In April, legislatures in both Maryland and Washington passed major legislation that shifts the burden of recycling costs from taxpayers to producers. Both bills are expected to be signed by the respective governors.
In Maryland, lawmakers approved HB 1616/SB 1076, which would make the state the sixth in the U.S. to adopt a packaging EPR law. The bill includes provisions for reimbursing local governments for the costs of collecting and processing packaging materials, including organics. It also calls for the creation of a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) that will develop and carry out a program plan in coordination with stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Washington’s legislation builds on a trend from Minnesota and Maryland by introducing a phased-in reimbursement structure and strong roles for local governments. By 2032, producers will be expected to cover 90% of net costs associated with recycling packaging. The legislation also introduces a Reuse Financial Assistance Program and requires recurring statewide needs assessments to help guide future improvements. And in true Pacific Northwest fashion, the Washington legislature passed the bill the day after Earth Day, proving they don’t just talk green, they legislate it too!
Both states worked with a range of partners—including environmental groups, local governments, and policy experts—to get these bills across the finish line. PSI’s packaging EPR policy model, technical assistance, expert testimony, and participation in stakeholder discussions helped inform the bills.
| | A MUST-READ FOR ALL EPR PROFESSIONALS! | | |
PERSPECTIVES ON PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP:
Navigating an extended producer
responsibility path to a circular economy
by Scott Cassel, CEO and Founder of PSI
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"Product stewardship provides a tangible thread of accountability that highlights the important role each of us—producers, consumers, retailers, collectors, recyclers, governments, environmental advocates, and the public—has in achieving our shared goals of a healthy environment and a just and thriving economy." — Scott Cassel, Perspectives on Product Stewardship
This book is a definitive guide to navigating EPR in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. It includes:
- Best practices for effective EPR policy design
- Case studies on packaging, paint, and batteries
- Strategies for stakeholder engagement and consensus-building
| | (StudioThreeDots / Canva Teams) | |
- A bill expanding consumer access to electronics repair is on the verge of becoming law in Washington. The bill covers phones, tablets, and laptops and is designed to reduce e-waste and improve affordability. Also in Washington, a separate bill extended to January 31, 2023 the deadline for PV module manufacturers to register and submit plans. The bill also establishes an advisory committee which will develop recommendations for PV module management by June 1, 2028, which will inform the Ecology’s report to the legislature, due December 1, 2028. Read more.
- States like Connecticut, New York, and Minnesota are exploring EPR policies for solar panels and wind turbine blades to address end-of-life management of renewable energy infrastructure. Read more.
- California’s SB343 Material Characterization Study published on April 4th provides much-needed clarity on implications for EPR obligations under SB54. Read more.
- New tariffs on imported goods are creating uncertainty in recycled plastic markets, potentially affecting supply chains and pricing structures. Read more.
- A pilot project demonstrates the feasibility of collecting and recycling plastics from healthcare settings, presenting a new feedstock opportunity for chemical recyclers. Read more.
- Emerging technologies are enhancing the efficiency of lithium-ion battery recycling, addressing the growing demand for critical minerals and reducing environmental impact. Read more.
- After years of providing grants to enhance curbside recycling, The Recycling Partnership is now emphasizing policy change and data collection to accelerate nationwide recycling improvements. Read more.
| | The Product Stewardship Institute is a policy expert and consulting nonprofit that pioneered product stewardship in the United States. Since 2000, PSI has helped enact 141 extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws across 20 product categories in 33 states — the bedrock on which the circular economy is built. We work with businesses, nonprofits, academia, and governments to ensure that products are responsibly managed from design to end of life. Join us at www.productstewardship.us. | | |
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 info@productstewardship.us or 617.236.4855.
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