|
Product Stewardship Updates
October 31, 2025
| | VERMONT TO LAUNCH FIRST-IN-NATION STATE HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM | | |
Vermont has enacted the nation’s first household hazardous waste (HHW) extended producer responsibility (EPR) law, positioning the state as a national leader in addressing the cost and safety challenges of managing toxic household products.
The new law, H.789 [corrected: Act 58/ 2023], directs the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) to oversee a statewide stewardship program covering products such as paint, cleaning fluids and solvents, aerosol cans, non-refillable gas cylinders, and other hazardous materials commonly found in homes. Because no stewardship organization met the statutory requirements to represent all affected manufacturers and submit a single collection plan by the July 25, 2025 deadline, ANR will now administer the program directly. Producers of these products will be required to participate in and fund the program, which will collect, transport, and safely dispose of HHW across the state.
The program establishes clear performance goals and aims to expand safe collection access for residents while shifting financial responsibility away from government solid waste management districts, which have long shouldered the cost and management of HHW. The measure builds on Vermont’s track record as a national EPR leader, following successful programs for paint, batteries, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and mercury lamps and thermostats. Rulemaking for the HHW program is expected to begin in 2025, with implementation to follow in subsequent years.
Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) has recently launched an initiative to engage local and state governments, producers, waste managers, and other stakeholders in developing a shared framework for EPR legislation for HHW. To participate or learn more, contact us at info@productstewardship.us.
| | EVNIA EXPANDS U.S. PRESENCE WITH NEW LEADERSHIP AND COMPLIANCE ENTITY | | PSI Champion-level partner Evnia is expanding its footprint in the U.S. with two major updates: the appointment of François Parent as Co-President and the launch of Evnia Compliance Group Inc., a new U.S.-based arm focused on supporting producers navigating EPR laws—particularly for packaging. François brings deep expertise in operations and compliance, joining Founder and President Marlène Hutchinson to help guide the company’s next phase of growth. The new U.S. entity will enhance Evnia’s ability to support businesses in meeting diverse and evolving EPR requirements across states. | | (Tatiana Kutina / Canva Teams) | | VAPE WASTE & FACILITY FIRES: A CLEAR CALL TO ACTION | |
Recycling and waste facilities across North America experienced a record number of fires this summer, and disposable vapes were increasingly cited as the cause. Lithium-ion batteries embedded in vape devices are being improperly discarded in curbside bins, drop-off sites, and transfer stations—places never designed to handle them. When damaged, these batteries can short circuit, overheat, and ignite, leading to dangerous fires and costly damage. This “vape effect” is a stark reminder of the urgent need for better product design and safe, effective collection systems.
PSI is at the forefront of tackling this challenge. We are convening a new workgroup on vape products to explore extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies that address the unique risks of these devices. The workgroup will cover the following topics:
- uniform standards to ensure transparent, safe, verifiable reclamation, recycling, and disposal
- education and infrastructure to prevent disposal issues and protect frontline workers
- convenience standards and equitable access to safe collection options
- parameters for safe product design, collection, and recycling that minimize health and environmental impacts
- governance and funding structures that assign clear operational and financial responsibilities to producers
- barriers to EPR for vape waste and possible solutions
The “vape effect” is already being felt in communities and recycling systems nationwide. Without consistent policies that engage manufacturers in product stewardship—from battery safety to end-of-life management—local governments and facility operators will continue to face disproportionate risks and costs. PSI’s goal is to develop data-driven, collaborative solutions that reduce risks, strengthen recycling systems, and ensure vape waste is managed responsibly across the product lifecycle.
To join PSI’s national effort to address the vape disposal issue, contact info@productstewardship.us.
| | ACRC TOPS 260 MILLION POUNDS RECYCLED IN VOLUNTARY EPR PROGRAM | | |
While many extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs are driven by legislation, the Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC) continues to demonstrate the impact of voluntary, industry-led stewardship. A PSI Partner, ACRC has collected and recycled more than 260 million pounds of plastic agricultural containers since 1992—making it one of the oldest and most successful voluntary programs in the U.S. This free, nationwide service is fully funded by the agricultural chemical industry, with no cost to farmers or commercial applicators. In 2025, the program reached another major milestone: its fourth-highest collection total ever through May, just short of a new all-time record. The containers are transformed into products like highway signposts, nursery pots, and construction mats.
What makes ACRC particularly notable today is its evolution from a voluntary program toward participation in emerging EPR systems. The organization was among the first to receive approval for an Individual Producer Plan (IPP) under Colorado’s new packaging EPR law—demonstrating how established stewardship programs can adapt and integrate into mandatory producer responsibility frameworks.
As policymakers and industries explore both voluntary and mandatory EPR solutions, ACRC stands out as a model for producer-led action that continues to evolve alongside policy advancements. Learn more at: https://www.acrecycle.org
| | |
EPR IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION:
A TWO-PART WEBINAR SERIES
The Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) and the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) are partnering to help stakeholders across the region—including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Ontario—build a strong foundation for effective EPR policies. While designed for Great Lakes audiences, both sessions are open to all who want to learn from the region’s progress and challenges.
Webinar 1: Laying the Groundwork — The Basics of EPR
November 13, 2025 | 11:00 AM ET
EPR is gaining momentum across North America, and the Great Lakes region is no exception. As policymakers, governments, companies, nonprofits, and other stakeholders prepare to engage in stewardship policy discussions, it’s critical to begin with a shared foundation of knowledge.
This introductory webinar will provide a clear overview of EPR principles, why they matter, and how they’re being applied in the U.S. and Canada. Speakers will explain the mechanics of EPR—shifting financial and operational responsibility for waste management from governments to producers—and highlight the environmental, economic, and equity benefits that drive adoption.
| |
Webinar 2: Beyond the Basics — Advancing EPR in the Great Lakes Region
December 10, 2025 | 1:00 PM ET
Across the Great Lakes region, conversations around EPR are moving beyond the basics toward detailed program design and implementation. This advanced session is tailored for policymakers, regulators, and stakeholders with prior exposure to EPR who are seeking deeper insights into next steps for their states and provinces.
Building on recent legislative progress in the U.S. and Canada, panelists will examine emerging best practices and critical decision points in program development. Topics will include governance models, oversight structures, eco-modulated fee schedules, data and reporting systems, and the evolving roles of municipalities and producer responsibility organizations (PROs). The session will also explore harmonization opportunities across jurisdictions, drawing lessons from Ontario’s oversight framework and U.S. packaging EPR laws already in motion.
| |
RCON™: RESHAPE THE FUTURE OF WASTE & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
November 12-15, 2025 | Columbus, Ohio
RCon™ 2025, SWANA’s flagship conference, is where waste and resource management professionals go to think and reshape the future of our industry. By bringing together more than 1,000 leaders for technical training, immersive facility tours, roundtable discussions, and unbeatable networking with an exhibit hall packed with more than 190 exhibitors. Register to attend SWANA’s RCon, held Nov. 12-15 in Columbus, Ohio.
| | (StudioThreeDots / Canva Teams) | |
-
EPR hits a turning point in 2025. As programs move from policy to implementation, producers are taking on greater responsibility for managing packaging, electronics, and other materials. Read more
-
Maine distributors move forward with bottle bill reform. The state plans to shift from a brand-based to a material-based system to improve efficiency and reduce costs for redemption centers. Read more
-
American Battery and Call2Recycle partner to collect lithium-ion batteries. The collaboration will expand safe collection and strengthen domestic recycling for critical materials. Read more
-
States are exploring stewardship programs for products like vapes, adhesives, and aerosols to protect health and the environment. 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 146 extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws across 21 product categories in 34 states and D.C. — 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.
| | | | |
