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Tag Archives: legislation

Stewardship exec: Key to EPR success is to watch, wait

Published: September 3, 2025
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Reverse-vending-machine-aleks333-Shutterstock

Reverse vending machines are one component of some deposit return systems | Aleks333/Shutterstock

Takeaways in two minutes (or less)

  • Watch, wait and learn from the “starter seven”
  • Focus first on expanding bottle deposit systems
  • Highlight economic impact to gain bipartisan support
  • Kentucky, Tennessee, Carolinas primed for action
  • Learn from the Canadian experience

 

In an active year for legislation aimed at reducing plastic pollution and waste, recycling stakeholders have a bevy of lessons to draw from, even with bills that have come under attack or didn’t quite pass. Continue Reading

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Plastics treaty talks end without consensus or a plan

Published: August 20, 2025
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The Geneva talks ended without agreement, highlighting sharp rifts on production caps, leaving no clear picture of when they might resume. | Maryshot/Shutterstock

After nearly two weeks of tense negotiations, the world’s attempt to forge the first legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution collapsed in Geneva, leaving delegates exhausted, civil groups dismayed and the path forward uncertain.

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Industry group details Canadian plastics registry

Published: August 13, 2025
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Industry group Coast Waste Management Association held a webinar to discuss the new reporting obligations for Canadian waste service providers. | Sherif Ashraf/Shutterstock

Editor’s Note: EPR compliance will be featured in sessions at the 2026 Resource Recycling Conference, Feb. 23-25 in San Diego, California.

Speakers from Coast Waste Management Association discussed the new reporting responsibilities for Canadian waste service providers, including recyclers, for the Federal Plastics Registry during a recent webinar. Continue Reading

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Oregon faces lawsuit over packaging EPR program

Published: August 6, 2025
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The State of Oregon seal at a park in Salem, Ore.

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors says the state’s newly active packaging EPR law is unfair and ineffective. | JPL Designs/Shutterstock

Editor’s Note: EPR compliance will be featured in sessions at the 2026 Resource Recycling Conference, Feb. 23-25 in San Diego, California.  Continue Reading

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Fresh round of plastic treaty talks kick off in Geneva

Published: August 6, 2025
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Delegates from around the world will navigate a number of sticking points that remain after five previous rounds of negotiations. | Memori Susandi/Shutterstock

Delegates from more than 170 countries will gather at the United Nations’ Palais des Nations Aug. 5-14 for what may be the final round of negotiations on a landmark international treaty to curb plastic pollution. Continue Reading

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Retailers launch CA campaign to ditch single-use bags

Published: July 30, 2025
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‘Break Up With Single-Use Bags’ campaign rolls out at over 1,000 Southern California stores ahead of the state’s 2026 plastic bag ban, aiming to shift habits early. | Photo Courtesy of Closed Loop Partners

A coalition of major retailers and local stores has launched a campaign across more than 1,000 Southern California locations this week to help customers kick the habit of using disposable shopping bags.  Continue Reading

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Lawmakers discuss federal role in plastic recycling

Published: July 23, 2025
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Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa takes notes during a July 16 U.S. House hearing discussing improvements to the recycling industry. | Photo courtesy U.S. House of Representatives

Two new policy proposals seeking to improve components of the U.S. recycling system came up during a Congressional hearing last week, and industry stakeholders offered their thoughts on how the federal government can best support the recycling sector. Continue Reading

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California prepares for textile EPR with public workshop

Published: July 23, 2025
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CalRecycle held a public workshop on California’s textiles EPR law to outline the future of its implementation and allow businesses and industry groups to comment on the effects of the law. | Vejo/Shutterstock

Business owners, potential producer responsibility organizations and industry experts gathered virtually and in person last week to ask California regulators questions about the state’s recently passed textile EPR law and give input on its implementation. Continue Reading

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California lawmakers look to quantify PCR imports

Published: July 16, 2025
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Plastic resin on a white background.

Resin imports are creating a challenging market for California reclaimers. | Saravutpics/Shutterstock

Amid a spike in post-consumer resin imports that reclaimers say is damaging the U.S. plastics recycling system, and allegations that some of that imported resin may not truly be recycled, a bill advancing in California would require beverage container manufacturers to report the country of origin for all PCR incorporated in their products. Continue Reading

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NY legislative session ends, again without EPR

Published: June 18, 2025
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Extended producer responsibility for packaging bill S 1464 passed out of the Senate on May 28 with a vote of 33-25, but did not get a vote in the Assembly. | Real Window Creative/Shutterstock

The 2025 legislative session in New York ended, and legislators’ hopes to pass extended producer responsibility for packaging this year did as well. Continue Reading

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