(Abby Boudouris, Scott Klag, Jen Holliday, Fenton Rood, Tom Metzner, Scott Cassel)

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS: U.S. PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP FORUM

This June 3-5, product stewardship leaders from around the country (and world) gathered in Wheeling, Illinois, to celebrate PSI’s 25th anniversary and advance critical conversations about extended producer responsibility (EPR). On the first day of the Forum, we successfully launched our Packaging EPR Harmonization Dialogue with 55 participants, while another 35 attendees participated in an EPR 101 Crash Course, gaining foundational insights into product stewardship. The remaining two days featured multiple sessions on packaging EPR, featuring key government regulators and legislators, producers, and recyclers. Practical solutions were also shared for challenging products such as batteries, vapes, textiles, household hazardous waste, paint, gas cylinders, and medical waste. Various panels highlighted PSI’s seminal achievements from its founding and throughout its 25 years. 

The celebration included a lively gala with contemporary blues performed by Chicago Blues Hall of Famer Michael Charles and his band. 

(Scott Cassel, CEO & Founder of PSI & Senator Malcolm Augustine, Maryland State Senator)

At the gala, PSI honored extraordinary leadership and innovation in EPR: 

• EPR Legislative Leader Award: Maryland State Senator Malcolm Augustine 
• EPR Pioneer Award: Abby Boudouris (Oregon DEQ) and Jen Holliday (Chittenden Solid Waste District, VT) 
• Corporate Stewardship Excellence Award: GDB International and American Coatings Association/PaintCare 
• EPR Global Mentor Award: Joachim Quoden (Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance) 
• Environmental Leader Award: Doug Kobold (California Product Stewardship Council) 
• EPR Local Leader Award: Christina Seibert (SWANCC), Marta Keane (Will County), Walter Willis (SWALCO), Adrian Tan (King County), McKenna Morrigan (City of Seattle) 
• Rising Star in EPR Award: Mallory Anderson (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) 
• Innovator in Product Stewardship Award: PARTSLIFE and Little Kamper 

We're proud to recognize these remarkable contributors to the EPR community. 

MOMENTUM BUILDS FOR BATTERY EPR ACROSS THE U.S. 

Battery stewardship programs advanced significantly over the past few years, but even more so during the past few weeks alone. First, Colorado passed battery EPR legislation, mandating producer responsibility for safe battery recycling with expanded consumer access. Nebraska followed suit by enacting the Safe Battery Collection and Recycling Act, establishing producer-funded collection programs for portable and medium-format batteries statewide. Connecticut also enacted a comprehensive battery EPR law, requiring battery producers to fund statewide recycling and collection initiatives to reduce environmental hazards and fire risks. In each case, PSI provided policy guidance, helping states align their efforts and progress toward nationally consistent, effective battery stewardship programs.  

Notably, in 2014, PSI and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment jointly hosted a two-day national battery stewardship meeting attended by 130 representatives of state and local governments, battery producers, recyclers, and environmental groups that kicked off the past decade’s push toward more robust battery EPR programs. At the meeting, battery producers, then represented by four separate associations, agreed for the very first time to support a unified battery EPR bill. During the meeting, PSI staff and members outlined the key aspects of battery EPR legislation and led a multi-stakeholder discussion. That two-day meeting sparked the first primary battery EPR law in Vermont, the first primary and rechargeable battery EPR law in the District of Columbia, and all battery EPR laws and bills that followed. Read more about all three state programs on our blog. 

ADVANCING REUSE IN PACKAGING EPR 

The recent paper by Upstream, Embracing Reuse in U.S. Packaging EPR Programs, highlights the timely opportunity to integrate reuse systems at the inception of packaging EPR programs. With seven packaging laws passed and none operational yet, the paper advocates for strategic investment from Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) in long-term reuse initiatives. Upstream continues to lead in normalizing reuse, supporting industry growth, and advocating for reuse-friendly policies. Explore the full paper here. 

MARYLAND AND WASHINGTON ADOPT COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGING EPR LAWS 

On May 13, Maryland became the sixth state to adopt comprehensive packaging EPR legislation, followed quickly on May 17 by Washington which became the seventh state, marking significant progress toward sustainable materials management. The new laws require producers to participate in approved stewardship programs, providing equitable and efficient recycling systems across the state. Learn more about Maryland’s packaging EPR law and Washington’s packaging EPR law. 

FIGHTING ILLEGAL TIRE DUMPING IN CONNECTICUT 

Each year, Connecticut municipalities face significant cleanup costs from illegally dumped tires, with one recent incident in Trumbull costing $50,000. House Bill 5017 amends the state’s existing tire stewardship law, enacted in 2023, to close critical loopholes that have hindered enforcement and compliance. The bill prevents double-charging consumers and enhances transparency and accountability from tire retailers. Jennifer Heaton-Jones, Executive Director of the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority, emphasizes, “This bill is just as much about consumer transparency as it is about material management.” PSI supports HB 5017 as an essential step toward environmental protection and consumer fairness. 

To learn more or support HB 5017, visit HRRA.org. 

PSI IN THE NEWS

• Colorado legislature passes battery EPR bill | Recycling Today, May 2025 
• Maryland Gov. Moore signs packaging EPR into law | Packaging Dive, May 2025 
• Healthcare waste in residential streams keeps growing. Now what? | Waste Dive, May 2025 
• EPR for Maryland: How SB 901 became law | Resource Recycling, May 2025 
• EPR vs. Bottle Bills: Beverage Giants Speak Out | Packaging Digest, June 2025 



WHAT WE'RE READING

(StudioThreeDots / Canva Teams)

• A wave of new packaging and paper EPR laws in the U.S. is transforming the regulatory landscape. Businesses are now facing compliance requirements in states like California, Colorado, Maine, Oregon, and Maryland. This article breaks down how companies can navigate varying rules, timelines, and definitions—and why early preparation is key. Read more 
• California is calling for public input on its upcoming battery and e-waste EPR programs. Stakeholders are invited to help shape regulatory frameworks, timelines, and compliance expectations. The move signals a broader shift toward more inclusive and transparent EPR rulemaking. Read more 
• Packaging regulations don’t have to be a burden—forward-thinking food and beverage companies are turning them into a competitive edge. By embracing reuse, transparency, and sustainability, brands are building trust and standing out in crowded markets. Read more 
• India is advancing circular economy efforts with a strong focus on plastic waste. Through EPR, innovation, and regulatory change, the country is turning post-consumer plastic into economic opportunities—laying the groundwork for long-term sustainability. 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 — 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.