How Does EPR Fit Into the Reuse Economy? |
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Consumers use one trillion single-use food and beverage packaging items in the United States each year – which make up nearly seventy percent of the litter found in the environment. That’s the problem that the burgeoning reuse economy seeks to solve by establishing systems for consumers to purchase products in reusable packaging and then return for refill at stores, restaurants, or entertainment venues.
But how does Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fit in? This question was explored on a recent webinar moderated by Upstream’s new policy director, Sydney Harris (formerly of PSI) where Will Grassle, PSI’s Associate for Policy & Programs, was one of four panelists. Learn more on the blog.
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California Considers Landmark Textile EPR Law |
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The fashion industry is one of the world’s worst polluters: It accounts for 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions and more than four percent of the waste stream. As textiles decompose in landfills, they emit high levels of methane gas, which is a primary contributor to global warming; dyes and other additives can leach into soil and contaminate groundwater.
Although 95% of these materials are either reusable or recyclable, only about 15% are used again. That’s the problem that California seeks to solve with SB 707, a first-in-the-nation textile Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bill. But that’s not the whole story – read more on the blog.
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Do Litter Laws Have A Place in EPR? |
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This comparison includes enacted laws in Maine, Oregon, Colorado, and California, as well as Washington’s Recycling and Packaging (WRAP) Act, which did not pass the session and would have established an EPR program and bottle bill in the state.
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Members and Partners receive regular legislative updates and can track EPR bills and laws in our Legislation Library.
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HELP GET US TO CIRCULARITY 23 |
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Scott Cassel, PSI’s CEO and Founder, was recently invited to submit a “Big Little Talk” about EPR for GreenBiz. The idea is to highlight game-changing ideas that accelerate the circular economy - and how we can catalyze change. The more traction we get on our video, the more likely we'll be able to make it to the top five - which will be shown at Circularity 23. Can you help? Please click through to like and share.
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PSI’s perspective was included as context for a Living on Earth podcast interview about pyrolysis with Veena Singla of NRDC, who previously joined us on our EPR Masterclass: Chemical Recycling webinar. A statement from Scott Cassel, PSI’s CEO and Founder, was included on LOE's webpage: “Chemical recycling is a term that encompasses many technologies, one of which is pyrolysis, which typically produces fuel. Our state and local government members consider pyrolysis as disposal. They don’t want to burn more materials; they want to return them to the circular economy.”
PSI was cited as a resource for consumers who want to mitigate the environmental impact of their online purchases by supporting legislation that “makes companies responsible for recycling their products and packaging” in a blog from the Environmental Defense Fund.
WasteDive tuned in to our March webinar on Packaging EPR Global Trends, and shared perspective from speakers Dan Felton of AMERIPEN, Nicole Willett of GFL, and Scott Cassel, PSI's CEO and Founder, who moderated the discussion.
New Coatings World article credits our work on paint EPR and quotes PSI's CEO and Founder, Scott Cassel: “We did research on leftover paint and found out that 10% of all paint that is purchased is left over...It costs over half a billion dollars a year cost to take care of it properly, through reuse, recycling or safe disposal. In fact, 70% of leftover paint collected is reused or recycled.”
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Recently in Tulsa, OK, Hanz Atia, PSI’s Associate, Policy & Programs, presented on PSI’s work to expand take-back infrastructure for medical sharps and pharmaceuticals in Oklahoma at the 2023 Oklahoma Indian Nations SWANA Conference.
Coast Waste Management Association will host a “EPR in BC: What’s on Deck!” webinar on April 14th that focuses on EV batteries, mattresses, compressed canisters, and medical sharps.
After eight years at the SWANA helm, David Biderman has departed from his role as executive director. ““I look forward to continuing to work in this great industry, focusing on safety, advocacy, and sustainability issues, and helping local governmental agencies and solid waste companies achieve their operational goals,” Biderman said in a statement.
Rulemaking on minimum post-consumer recycled content law continues to progress in California, as stakeholders weigh in.
On March 29, 2023, CalRecycle’s director approved Mattress Recycling Council’s revised Used Mattress Recycling and Recovery Plan. The signed Request for Action is located in the documents section of the public notice. On March 29th, CARE submitted its revised California Carpet Stewardship Plan 2023 to 2027 (Revised Plan) to CalRecycle on March 29, 2023, in response to CalRecycle’s March 6, 2023 Request for Action. CalRecycle has 60 days to approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove the Revised Plan (by May 29, 2023). This item will be presented at CalRecycle’s April 18, 2023, Monthly Public Meeting (agenda and information regarding how to participate, will be posted on CalRecycle's website). Public comments on CARE’s Revised Plan are due by April 18, 2023.
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April 12 Virtual – Lelande Rehard, PSI’s Senior Associate, Policy & Programs, will moderate the discussion on “Managing Leftover Paint in Missouri.” Learn more and register here.
April 14 Virtual - Scott Cassel, PSI’s CEO and Founder, will present on emerging EPR in British Columbia at a Coast Waste Management Association (CWMA) virtual event. Register here.
April 26 Brussels – Scott Cassel, PSI’s CEO and Founder, will present on a global EPR panel at the Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance (EXPRA) 10th Anniversary celebration in Brussels. More information is coming soon!
April 25 Prior Lake, MN - Will Grassle, PSI’s Associate, Policy & Programs, will present on Minnesota EPR at the RAM/SWANA Conference. Register here.
May 11 Kalamazoo, MI - Amanda Nicholson, PSI’s Chief Operating Officer, will present on opportunities and approaches for EPR across multiple product categories at the Michigan Recycling Coalition Annual Conference. Register here.
May 22 Concord, NH – Scott Cassel, PSI’s CEO and Founder, will present a keynote with Dan Leif of Resource Recycling and David Biederman, formerly of SWANA, at the Northeast Resource Recovery Association Conference. Register here.
May 23 Bolton Landing, NY – Scott Cassel, PSI’s CEO and Founder, will join Dr. Amit Goyal of SUNY Buffalo’s NYS Center on Plastics Recycling and Innovation for "New Advances in Science Supports Better Recycling” moderated by Lauren Laibach of NAPCOR at the New York Federation Solid Waste and Recycling Conference and Trade Show. Register here.
June 30 Washington, DC – Scott Cassel, PSI’s CEO and Founder, will present on U.S. Packaging EPR at the Chemical Watch Food Contact Regulations conference. Learn more about Chemical Watch here.
September 26 Boston – Scott Cassel, PSI’s CEO and Founder, will present on packaging EPR at the Sustainable Packaging Coalition ADVANCE conference. Registration coming soon!
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Nearly 400 waste and recycling facility fires due to batteries were reported by the media in U.S. and Canada in 2022, new story shows. “State EPR laws and federal funding efforts aim to reduce risk.”
The White House recently issued a report “Bold Goals for U.S. Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing: Harnessing Research and Development to Further Societal Goals” that outlines goals related to EPR for packaging. By 2043, the Goal 2.2 intends to “convert bio-based feedstocks into recyclable-by-design polymers that can displace >90% of today’s plastics and other commercial polymers at scale” through establishing facilities to “test new technologies from synthesis, manufacturing, and polymer processing to in-line application testing for materials and chemical synthesis and recycling.”
Southern Maryland News covered the packaging EPR bill under consideration and quoted sponsor Senator Augustine as saying it will help “create a more circular economy for our packaging materials.”
Analysis from WIRED shows that the supply of expired solar panels might exceed processing capacity. What’s the solution? Solar panel EPR laws, which exist in Washington State and Niagara County, NY, where we worked closely with stakeholders to develop the bill that was enacted into law.
New report shows that without a legally binding United Nations treaty, plastic production will double by 2050. PSI was one of many organizations that called for EPR to be included in the U.S. State Department’s recommendations and this policy proposal is included in the report.
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Our recent "Packaging EPR Global Trends" webinar, presented by EXPRA, is now available to the entire PSI community through our Webinar Archives.
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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!
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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, TTY: use 711 or 800-439-2730; MassRelay.
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