Tag Archives: EPR/stewardship

EPR proponents savor the moment, but concerns remain

Published: June 11, 2025
Updated: June 11, 2025
by Dan Holtmeyer

Around 200 regulators, extended producer responsibility advocates, manufacturers and others gathered at the 2025 Product Stewardship Forum to talk about EPR. | Dan Holtmeyer/Resource Recycling

Extended producer responsibility policies for all sorts of materials — packaging, paint, batteries, vapes — are riding a wave of momentum across the U.S. and are poised to continue expanding to more states, several industry leaders said at the 2025 Product Stewardship Forum outside of Chicago last week. Continue Reading

California advisory board examines barriers to EPR

Published: June 4, 2025
Updated: June 4, 2025
by Marissa Heffernan

The report touches on five main topics: recyclability of covered materials, compostability of covered materials, reuse and refill and other source reduction systems, cost coverage for local jurisdictions, and plastic leakage into the environment. | Ratchat/Shutterstock

Members of the California extended producer responsibility for packaging advisory board have identified dozens of barriers to implementation and offered up possible solutions in a recent report.

Posted in News | Tagged California, EPR/stewardship, local programs, Policy Now |

Canadian ag recycling sees continued success

Published: June 4, 2025
Updated: June 4, 2025
by Andrew Hawthorne

An annual report from Cleanfarms shows improving rates of agricultural plastic recycling in Canada. | AgriRECUP/Shutterstock

Cleanfarms, a Canadian agricultural recycling stewardship group, recovered and recycled over 22 million pounds of agricultural plastics in 2024, according to a recently released annual report outlining the organization’s achievements in the last year. Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged agricultural plastics, Canada, EPR/stewardship |

Producer program increases PVC recycling in Colombia

Published: June 4, 2025
Updated: June 4, 2025
by Antoinette Smith

Health care workers can earn rewards for recycling IV bags, and redeem them for a pair of Vida sneakers made using recycled PVC | Photo Courtesy of Orbia

PVC and medical waste are both areas often considered to be non-starters for plastics recyclers. But global vinyl producer Orbia is expanding its program that incorporates both, as well as helping improve the standard of living for some of the most vulnerable people in the recycling system. Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged EPR/stewardship, PVC |

CAA announces program updates, personnel changes

Published: May 29, 2025
Updated: May 29, 2025
by Marissa Heffernan

Producer responsibility organization Circular Action Alliance is making staffing changes in California as implementation ramps up. | zmotions/Shutterstock

Changes are coming at producer responsibility organization Circular Action Alliance in California, with Rachel Wagoner moving out of the California executive director role and into an “external advisory capacity.” Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged California, EPR/stewardship, industry groups |

SB 54 draft regulations elicit ample feedback

Published: May 29, 2025
Updated: May 29, 2025
by Marissa Heffernan

In March, California Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected SB 54 draft regulations, forcing the rulemaking process to restart. | Brandon Bourdages/Shutterstock

The first public opportunity to comment on California’s latest extended producer responsibility for packaging draft regulations stretched past the allotted time frame, with some speakers saying changes to a chemical recycling regulation section were unlawful. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged chemical recycling, EPR/stewardship, industry groups |

PakTech prepares for benefits, challenges under EPR

Published: May 21, 2025
Updated: May 21, 2025
by Marissa Heffernan

PakTech uses injection molding equipment and blow-molding-grade material, as well as modular equipment designs, for cost and speed efficiency. | Marissa Heffernan/Resource Recycling

Extended producer responsibility programs, labeling requirements and minimum PCR mandates offer both challenges and opportunities, and company leaders at 100% PCR packaging manufacturer PakTech have been steadily working to position the company for the future. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged brand owners, EPR/stewardship, HDPE |

New version of California EPR regulations released

Published: May 21, 2025
Updated: May 21, 2025
by Marissa Heffernan

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery released a revised informal draft of SB 54 regulations. | Michael Warwick/Shutterstock

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery released a revised draft of SB 54 regulations, two months after the governor rejected the first version of the extended producer responsibility for paper and packaging rules.

Posted in News | Tagged California, EPR/stewardship, regulation/oversight |

Texas bottle bill hits milestone, but does not pass

Published: May 21, 2025
Updated: May 21, 2025
by Antoinette Smith

Using data including state litter studies, the bill moved farther along than previous efforts, lending optimism to its potential to pass in 2027. | Andrew Yahin/Shutterstock

A bipartisan bill in Texas to introduce a bottle deposit return system ran out of time for a state House vote, but supporters see cause for optimism after a strong showing during the recently concluded biennial legislative session.

Posted in News | Tagged container deposits, EPR/stewardship, legislation |

EPR for Maryland: How SB 901 became law

Published: May 7, 2025
Updated: May 7, 2025
by Marissa Heffernan

The final bill builds on previous legislation, resulting in an EPR program that will take shape in 2028. | Evan Lorne/Shutterstock

After five years of work and many interim steps, Maryland became the sixth U.S. state to pass extended producer responsibility legislation for paper and packaging, continuing the policy’s evolution in the country.

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged EPR/stewardship, industry groups, legislation, Policy Now |