Shifting the cleanup cost of packaging waste to companies could encourage greener packaging – but only if states are aligned
Extended producer responsibility policies are gaining steam in the US, but what they entail can differ widely from state to state.
Some states are looking into ways to help ease concerns about plastic waste by making companies responsible for the cost of cleaning up packaging waste. This approach, called extended producer responsibility (EPR), is being considered in states such as California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. EPR puts the financial burden on the companies that produce the packaging, rather than putting that burden on local taxpayers.
The "packaging guy" viral video demonstrates how unpredictable packaging design can be, with shampoo coming in rigid plastic bottles, flexible squeeze tubes, refillable metal cans or solid bars in paperboard boxes. Consumers are unsure how to make environmentally friendly choices as packaging often has various sustainability labels.
However, EPR policies in the United States are still in their infancy, being implemented at the state level rather than at the national level. While seven states have passed EPR laws, over a dozen others are considering them but have not yet passed legislation.
Experts have differing views on the goals of EPR policies, with some seeing them as a way to fund improvements to local recycling systems and others stressing the need for EPR policies to reduce the producers' environmental impacts. There is also disagreement on which packaging design changes should be prioritized, with some focusing on reducing litter and others on promoting reusable or bio-based packaging.
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