Cascade Alliance

Extended Producer Responsibility Proposal for Packaging Hits National Stage

Working in materials management, we are well aware of what items regularly end up in the waste stream. While we are able to pull materials that are reusable and recyclable, some plastics continue to be a problem.

Last week, two US legislators released an outline of legislations that addresses single-use plastics and packaging.  The legislation would hold consumers and producers responsible for the waste that they produce.  This proposal is the first time in 30 years that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging has been proposed at the federal level.  It also highlights the importance of the current recycling and plastics pollution crisis.

Product Stewardship Institute, which St. Vincent de Paul is a member of, assisted Sen. Tom Udall and US Rep. Alan Lowenthal with their initial draft proposal and shared ideas for policy approach related to single-use plastics.

The current draft proposal contains specific obligations that would shift the financial burden of cleaning up plastic waste from state and local governments to the companies that create and sell the products.

The Cascade Alliance is always excited to see the progression of these laws.  We consistently follow the national extended producer responsibility laws, mattress recycling in particular. Together we can make this a better world to live in!