|
COLORADO JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
APPROVES EPR MEDIUM SCENARIO
| |
|
The Colorado General Assembly's Joint Budget Committee (JBC) accepted the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE)'s recommendation to adopt the “medium scenario” outlined in the Circular Action Alliance (CAA) needs assessment report. This important milestone means that CAA, the producer responsibility organization, can proceed with implementing Colorado's Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling of packaging and paper products.
The medium implementation scenario is projected to double the state's recycling rate of covered materials by 2035 and will provide expanded access to curbside and drop-off center recycling at no cost to residents or local governments. The recommendation was developed with input from over 100 stakeholders, including feedback from the Producer Responsibility Advisory Board during their monthly meetings, which PSI has been contracted to facilitate. CAA is currently developing a program plan proposal aligned with the approved scenario and will consult with the Advisory Board throughout the process. CAA must submit the plan proposal to CDPHE on or before February 1, 2025.
| |
WEBINAR ENGAGES NEW YORK LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ON PACKAGING EPR | |
|
Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE), in collaboration with the New York Conference of Mayors and the New York State Association of Counties, recently co-hosted a webinar aimed at educating numerous New York local governments on the NYS Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act.
The webinar featured presentations by Scott Cassel, CEO and Founder of PSI, and Dawn Timm, Chair of the New York Product Stewardship Council, who discussed the benefits of the extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy, strategies to overcome current challenges, and potential policy options to modernize and improve New York's stagnant recycling rate. Moderated by CCE Executive Director, Adrienne Esposito, the event was kicked off by Senator Pete Harckham, sponsor of the bill and Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, who expressed his strong support for a bill that will work for New Yorkers. Watch the webinar recording here.
| |
|
VERMONT BATTERY EPR AMENDMENT PASSES HOUSE COMMITTEE
On April 30, Vermont’s House Committee on Environment and Energy passed S 254, a bill that would amend Vermont’s existing primary battery EPR law to include primary medium format batteries and rechargeable portable batteries. Additionally, the amendment includes a government funded study of embedded batteries, electric vehicle batteries, and battery energy storage systems. The bill is now being heard in the House Committee on Ways and Means.
ILLINOIS BATTERY EPR BILL PASSED THE SENATE
Last month, SB 3686 passed out of the Illinois Senate and is now being considered in the House Committee on Energy and Environment. SB 3686 would establish a new program for portable and medium format primary and rechargeable batteries in Illinois.
MINNESOTA ENVIRONMENT FUNDING OMNIBUS BILLS INCLUDE PACKAGING EPR
In late April, Minnesota included the Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act in its environment finance omnibus bills HF 3911/SF 3887. These bills would establish an EPR program in the state for packaging and paper products. HF 3911 passed out of the House. SF 3561 is waiting to be heard on the senate floor.
| |
Many producers now have a legal obligation to report packaging data in certain states and Reverse Logistics Group (RLG), a PSI Partner, can help bring your business into compliance. For over 30 years RLG has been known for excellence in EPR compliance services and PRO operations both locally and globally. RLG can identify compliance obligations, manage EPR reporting and payments, and gather and prepare packaging data for submission. A cornerstone of RLG’s data management service is the Data Insight Platform, which already includes over 50 million SKUs to aid with data validation, and can be leveraged for ESG, cost and materials forecasting, benchmarking, and modeling. Learn more. | |
Ag Container Recycling Council | |
Since 1992, the Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC), a PSI Partner, has been collecting and recycling agricultural chemical containers nationwide. Over 245 million pounds of plastic have been recycled to date, with a current annual average of approximately 10 million pounds. This industry-funded initiative remains cost-free for farmers and professional applicators. The ACRC continues to promote and educate the public on the importance of recycling agricultural chemical containers. Together, we help make cleaner farms and agricultural spaces by using our resources more efficiently. Visit AgRecycling.org to learn more! | |
|
Are you a PSI Member? Consider renewing your membership early.
July 1 membership renewals are around the corner – but you don’t have to wait until July to renew! If you have extra money in this year’s budget, or want to maximize next year’s budget, you can renew your PSI Membership early. You can also add consulting services of any amount to your annual membership invoice.
Watch for our renewal appeal email (it comes from psi@wildapricot.org) and renew online today! Contact susan@productstewardship.us with any questions or to add a consulting project to your membership invoice.
Interested in PSI Membership? Join us!
PSI Members are state, local, and tribal government leaders who work closely with PSI to develop product stewardship policy and EPR legislation through shared intelligence and strategic collaborations. Membership provides your entire agency staff with access to PSI government and multi-stakeholder policy calls, research, policy models, webinar recordings, educational materials, networking, and other resources across 25+ product categories that can save your agency time and money while advancing your product stewardship and EPR goals. If you’re interested in becoming a PSI Member, or would like to learn more, contact info@productstewardship.us!
Consulting for PSI Members and Partners
Did you know that PSI offers custom consulting services for our Members and Partners? Our EPR experts can meet your needs for research, proof of concept pilot projects, policy facilitation and/or mediation, stakeholder engagement and consensus building, legislative analysis and policy development, regulatory and compliance information, EPR program evaluation, and EPR education. Contact info@productstewardship.us to get started.
| |
A MUST-READ FOR ALL EPR PROFESSIONALS! | |
|
PERSPECTIVES ON PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP:
Navigating an extended producer
responsibility path to a circular economy
by Scott Cassel, CEO and Founder of PSI
| |
Learn about the emergence of the EPR movement in the U.S., Canada, and Europe; the basic elements of all effective EPR bills; how to build consensus with other stakeholders; and key definitions, terminology, and issues. Includes in-depth case studies on packaging, paint, and batteries. | |
|
New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) is seeking a Director to lead its statewide technology development, transfer, and assistance center whose mission is to make New York State more environmentally sustainable for businesses, workers, and the public through more efficient use of raw materials, energy and water, and reductions in toxic chemical use, emissions to the environment and waste generation. Learn more and apply here.
| |
A Pluribus News article [paywalled] about recent EPR legislation in the U.S. quoted Scott Cassel, CEO and Founder of PSI, who explained that “producers have a special responsibility for financing and managing the consumer products that they make and put onto the marketplace.” In the piece, Scott also emphasized that EPR policy provides the structure to manage products that would otherwise be “a waste management burden, not to mention that many of these products and processes disproportionately impact certain communities.” | |
|
ECOMAINE ANNUAL BOARD MEETING
June 20 – Portland, ME: Scott Cassel, CEO and Founder of PSI, will be the featured speaker for ecomaine, a solid waste management nonprofit serving over 70 communities, at the Annual Board Meeting. Scott will present to board members, elected officials, and city and town managers on the anticipated benefits of Maine’s packaging EPR law.
PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY USA
June 26 – Boston, MA: Scott Cassel, CEO and Founder of PSI, will present at Product Sustainability USA, a conference presented by Enhesa focused on product sustainability in the chemical industry. Scott will present at the session on extended producer responsibility alongside Dan Felton, Executive Director of AMERIPEN, and Susan Bernard, Regulatory Director at Battery Council International. Learn more and register.
CANADIAN EPR FORUM
September 24-25 – Toronto, CAN: The Canadian Stewardship Conference is hosting the 2024 Canadian EPR Forum which brings together industry leaders, government policymakers, and business operators from Canada, the United States and Europe to share expertise and knowledge on EPR. Learn more and register.
| |
|
NY TEXTILES: In April, the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board held a successful stakeholder meeting to discuss the New York Fashion Act and the state’s pending EPR for textiles bill. Read more.
OR PACKAGING: Circular Action Alliance (CAA), which has already been selected at the PRO for California and Colorado, has submitted a program plan for Oregon’s packaging EPR law. Read more.
ME PACKAGING: Maine’s packaging EPR law, passed in 2021, is nearing the end of its rulemaking process. The Department of Environmental Protection has drafted regulations that will move to the Board of Environmental Protection for review. Read more.
OK PHARMS & SHARPS: The Cleveland County Health Department will host a drive-thru National DEA Drug and Sharps take Back Event on April 27, 2024. The department was able to add sharps disposal to their spring take-back event thanks to a grant funded by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and administered by PSI. Read more.
| |
The Product Stewardship Institute is a policy expert and consulting nonprofit that pioneered product stewardship in the United States. Since 2000, PSI has helped enact 136 extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws across 18 product categories in 33 states — the bedrock on which the circular economy is built. We work with businesses, nonprofits, academia, and governments to ensure that products are responsibly managed from design to end of life. | |
|
The Product Stewardship Institute, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Persons with disabilities who require alternatively formatted materials to ensure effective communication should contact Amanda Nicholson at info@productstewardship.us or 617.236.4855.
| | | | |
