Diversion Trends Workshop- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in MA: Karen Shapiro from Product Stewardship Institute

1. MassRecycle
R3 Recycling & Organics Conference &
Trade Show
April 1, 2013
Karen Shapiro, Senior Associate
Product Stewardship Institute, Inc.

2. Who is the
Product Stewardship Institute?
• Nonprofit founded in 2000
• Memberships
 47 States
 200+ Local governments
• Partnerships (95+)
 Companies
 Organizations
 Universities
 Non-US Governments
• Board of Directors: 7 states,
4 local agencies
• Advisory Council: Multi-
stakeholder (14 members)
Global Product Stewardship Council
(PSI represented on Board of Directors)
2© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013

3. A policy approach that…
• Minimizes health, safety,
environmental, and social impacts
• Maximizes economic benefits of a
product and its packaging
• Considers all lifecycle stages, from
design to end-of-life
• Is either voluntary or required by
law
What is Product Stewardship?
© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013 3

4. What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)?
© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013 4
Product
Stewardship
Extended
Producer
Responsibility
(EPR)
• Mandatory product
stewardship
• Producers hold financial
and managerial
responsibility for post-
consumer products and
packaging
• Central tenet of product
stewardship

5. What does EPR Look Like?
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6. EPR on the Rise in the U.S.
Over the Past Decade
6
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
NumberofLaws
Year
EPR laws since 2000
© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013

7. 7 7
EPR Laws in the U.S. by State
2012
© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013

8. Another View on State EPR Laws
70 EPR laws in 32 states
(including laws on carpet, “framework,” cell phones, and
agricultural pesticide containers)
4
3
8
10
14
23
8© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013

9. Mandatory EPR Laws
and Legislation
in the Northeast U.S.
9
9
© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013
Key

10. • Two research reports: 2002 – 2003
• PSI has facilitated a national dialogue
on paint since December 2003.
• 1st Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) issued – April 2005.
• 8 projects – $2 M public/private funds.
• 2nd MOU issued in October 2007.
• Detailed work plan – elements of
legislation
• First product stewardship law for paint
passed in Oregon in June 2009.
A brief history of paint stewardship
10© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013

11. U.S. State EPR laws & legislation
PAINT
11
 Oregon (2009)
 California (2010)
 Connecticut (2011)
 Rhode Island (2012)
© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013

12. Survey of Massachusetts Municipalities
12© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013
Under a grant from the MassDEP, PSI surveyed municipal
recycling coordinators around the Commonwealth to:
(1) Determine the level of awareness about product
stewardship & existing programs
(2) Understand which products in waste stream are
greatest concern & why
(3) Gain input on which strategies they felt could most
effectively help Mass reach a goal of zero waste

13. Survey Results
13© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013
(1) High level of awareness & support
for Product Stewardship
(2) Unequal awareness of existing
programs in Massachusetts
(3) High level of support for additional
PS programs in Massachusetts
(4) Support for Product Stewardship as a
promising strategy for zero waste

14. Awareness of Existing Programs
14© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013
1) Beverage Deposit System (aka bottle bill)
2) Retail plastic bag take-backs
3) Fluorescent Lamp Retail Take-Backs
• Lowes & Home Depot
4) Call2Recycle (batteries & cell phones)
5) Thermostat Recycling Corporation
6) Electronics Retail Take-Back Programs
• Staples & Best Buy

15. Awareness of Existing Programs
15© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013
Local Recycling Coordinators Were Asked:
1. If they referred residents to use the program
2. If they thought residents were aware of the program

18. Priority Products - Financial Burden
18© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013
Asked: Which products pose the greatest
financial strain on your waste
management/recycling program?
Results:
1. Electronics
2. Mixed HHW (cleaners, solvents, pool chemicals)
3. Bulky waste/furniture
4. Paint
5. Pesticides

19. Support for additional PS programs in Mass
from municipal recycling coordinators
19© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013
Asked: Other states have adopted Product Stewardship programs for:
(1) Paint (2) Electronics (3) Mercury containing lamps
Would you favor adopting a similar program in Massachusetts?
Results: Paint Electronics Mercury containing lamps
I favor a similar program for Massachusetts I do not favor a similar program for Massachusetts No opinion

20. What can be done now?
20© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013
• Take advantage of voluntary programs already in place
• Get involved in promoting new programs
• Get involved with PSI!

21. Karen Shapiro
Senior Associate, Policy & Programs
617-236-4866
karen@productstewardship.us
Contact
www.productstewardship.us
21© Product Stewardship Institute, 2013