What is Extended Producer Responsibility?
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is an environmental policy approach where producers (brands and manufacturers) are held responsible for the management of the entire lifecycle of their products, including recycling. This approach helps reduce litter and waste, while encouraging the design of sustainable products that are easier to recycle and reuse.
Why should EPR policies be implemented?
EPR shifts the financial and operational responsibility of waste management from local governments and taxpayers to creators and producers. This shift incentivizes companies to design innovative products with recyclability and reusability in mind, while increasing recycling rates and reducing the environmental impact of waste, all of which promote a more circular economy and cleaner environment.
What is a Recycling Refund (RR) system?
A Recycling Refund (RR) system - also known as a “Bottle Bill” or Deposit Return System (DRS) - is a recycling program that places a refundable deposit on beverage containers to encourage consumers to return empty beverage containers (such as glass or plastic bottles and aluminum cans) in exchange for a monetary refund. Containers are collected, cleaned, and recycled or reused, significantly increasing recycling rates, reducing litter and the use of virgin materials.
How does a RR program work?
Consumers pay a deposit on beverage containers when purchasing beverages included in the program. Once the beverages are consumed, consumers return the container to a designated collection point (such as a bag-drop, drop-off center, or reverse vending machine (RVM)) and their deposit is refunded. The collected containers are then cleaned and recycled.
What are the benefits of EPR?
- Increases Recycling Rates: By holding producers accountable for product lifecycles, EPR encourages better product design, more efficient recycling, and more sustainable systems.
- Enables Cost Savings for Local Governments: Producers fund the collection, recycling, and disposal of their products, reducing the burden on local governments and taxpayers.
- Encourages Sustainable Product Design: EPR incentivizes manufacturers to create products that are easier to recycle, reducing the environmental impact of production and waste.
- Promotes a Circular Economy: EPR helps shift toward a circular economy, where materials are repurposed and reused and products are continuously cycled through the economy instead of ending up in landfills or waste streams.
What are the benefits of RR?
- Reduces Litter: RR systems significantly reduce the amount of litter, particularly beverage containers, by encouraging consumers to return them for a monetary refund.
- Increases Recycling Rates: RR systems have a proven track record of boosting recycling rates and promoting the recycling and reuse of beverage bottles and cans.
- Reduces Environmental Impact: By recycling and reusing beverage containers, RR systems help reduce the need for virgin materials and the carbon emissions associated with manufacturing new containers.
- Creates Cleaner Communities: The RR system helps keep public spaces, parks, rivers, roadsides, and streams clean by preventing containers from being discarded improperly.
How do EPR and RR work together?
When designed and implemented together, EPR and RR systems create a high-performance recycling and waste management system. EPR ensures that producers are responsible for the lifecycle of their products and enables more innovative and sustainable packaging design, while RR encourages consumers to return their beverage containers for recycling and reuse. This combination, which is supported by the Coalition for High Performance Recycling (CHPR) leads to higher recycling rates, reduced litter, and a more sustainable approach to manufacturing and waste management, while saving governments and taxpayers money.
How does EPR impact businesses?
Producers in an EPR program must take responsibility for the full lifecycle of their products, including how their products are recycled. This typically means contributing financially to the recycling infrastructure and participating in recycling programs through the creation of a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), which manages collection and recycling programs. While this may involve additional costs for businesses, it also encourages innovation in product design, such as making products easier to recycle and using fewer resources, which can benefit businesses in the long term by improving their environmental footprint and processes.
Are there any costs associated with RR systems for consumers?
Consumers pay a minimal deposit on beverage containers at the time of purchase, usually 5 to 10 cents. This deposit is refunded when they return the container. This program incentivizes recycling and reduces the overall environmental impact of beverage containers, while ensuring that consumers have a convenient way to return their containers for a refund.
What types of products are typically covered under combined EPR and RR systems?
EPR can apply to a wide range of products, including packaging materials. It is also often applied to items that are difficult to recycle or that contribute significantly to waste.
RR systems generally apply to beverage containers such as glass and plastic bottles, and aluminum cans. These containers can be common sources of litter and are often under-recycled.
How successful are RR programs?
RR programs have been implemented successfully in the United States (10 states already have these programs) and around the world. These 10 states that recycling refund programs continuously see higher recycling rates than states that do not.