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Product Stewardship Updates
June 6, 2024
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MINNESOTA ENACTS LANDMARK
EPR LAW FOR PACKAGING AND BOAT WRAP
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Last month, Minnesota became the fifth state in the country to enact EPR for packaging, following Oregon and Maine (2021) and Colorado and California (2022), and the first in the nation to enact EPR for boat wrap.
PSI was hired in the fall of 2021 by the Partnership on Waste and Energy, a Minnesota joint powers authority comprised of Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties, to assist in developing the initial Minnesota packaging bill. PSI used its updated packaging EPR policy model as the basis for facilitated stakeholder agreements that became the basis for subsequent conversations that led to the final bill.
The new packaging EPR program requires producers to cover 50% of recycling costs starting in 2029, increasing to 90% by 2031. Additionally, the law requires a needs assessment to be conducted by December 31, 2026, which will inform program implementation. The first-in-the-nation boat wrap EPR program targets recycling millions of pounds of plastic used to winterize Minnesota's numerous boats, with producers required to submit stewardship plans by 2025. Read more in our news alert.
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MARYLAND LAW CREATES STATEWIDE PAINT RECYCLING PROGRAM | |
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Last month, Maryland became the 12th state (in addition to the District of Columbia) to adopt a paint recycling program, which will be operated by PaintCare, the paint industry’s nonprofit producer responsibility organization.
The recently passed law is based on the extended producer responsibility model legislation mediated by PSI over 15 years ago. This model has served as the foundation for the 12 other PaintCare programs established since then.
The Maryland program is anticipated to begin operation in 2026 and will offer over 100 paint drop-off sites throughout the state. Many of these will be conveniently located paint and hardware stores that are open at normal business hours. There will be no cost to households and businesses when dropping off their leftover paint for reuse or recycling. Funding to run the program will be included as a small fee added to the purchase price of new paint. Read more in our press release.
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FREE WEBINAR
June 18 | 12:00 – 1:30 ET
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Join our webinar to learn about the success of U.S. paint extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs, which have collected over 70 million gallons of leftover paint, saving governments millions annually. Experts representing paint producers and government agencies will discuss how U.S. paint programs started, how programs operate, what led to the harmonization and passage of the 13 paint EPR laws, and PaintCare’s many successes. As many new states are considering their own paint EPR legislation, this session will also cover challenges faced and lessons learned in program planning, operations and continued expansion of the PaintCare into aerosol coatings, including the emerging landscape of packaging and HHW EPR laws. | |
VERMONT ENACTS BATTERY EPR AMENDMENT | |
On June 3, Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed into law a significant amendment that expands the scope of the state’s 2014 battery EPR law to include rechargeable batteries, battery-containing devices, and medium format primary batteries – starting January 1, 2026. Additionally, the amendment includes a government funded study of embedded batteries, electric vehicle batteries, and battery energy storage systems. The bill (S.254) was based on best practices from PSI's battery EPR Policy model and was spearheaded by Jen Holliday, PSI board member and chair of the Vermont Product Stewardship Council. It was also supported by battery manufacturers and battery recyclers. Read more in our news alert. | |
ILLINOIS BATTERY EPR BILL PASSED BOTH HOUSES | |
Last month, Illinois’ battery EPR bill passed out of both houses and is due to be sent to Governor JB Pritzker for signing. Championed by PSI board members Christina Seibert and Walter Willis, SB 3686 will create a new program for portable and medium format primary and rechargeable batteries in Illinois. This would be the state's sixth EPR law and will increase the total number of battery EPR laws in the U.S. to 16, most of which are based on PSI's battery EPR model. | |
PSI’s accomplishments this fiscal year were made possible not only by our supportive Members and Partners, but also our generous donors. Our community is our foundation, and your contributions fuel PSI’s mission and the EPR movement. As our fiscal year ends, please consider donating to keep the momentum going. | |
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WEBINAR SERIES:
Preparing Producers for Oregon Packaging EPR
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This summer, PSI is hosting four education webinars on behalf of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and in partnership with Circular Action Alliance, the producer responsibility organization operating in Oregon, to inform producers about their upcoming obligations under Oregon’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) law for packaging. These webinars are designed to support producers of packaging, paper, and food serviceware in understanding and complying with the new regulations. If you are a producer selling packaging into Oregon, don’t miss this opportunity to ensure your compliance with Oregon’s EPR law and stay abreast of government regulations. | |
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT - GDB Paint & Coatings | |
GDB Paint & Coatings, a PSI Partner, gives new life to leftover and discarded paint through its sustainable recycling process. In 2023 alone, GDB reused paint and other materials to make 3.3 million gallons of recycled paint – enough to paint all the homes in Salt Lake City. Not only does this reduce the amount of waste being disposed of, but it also saves resources by reusing the materials that would otherwise be wasted. This process has significant environmental and economic benefits, providing a competitive edge in the market by positioning the company as an environmentally responsible and innovative player in the paint industry. Learn more. | |
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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.
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A MUST-READ FOR ALL EPR PROFESSIONALS! | |
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PERSPECTIVES ON PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP:
Navigating an extended producer
responsibility path to a circular economy
by Scott Cassel, CEO and Founder of PSI
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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. | |
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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.
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A Coatings World article reports on the newly enacted Maryland paint EPR law, quoting Scott Cassel, CEO and Founder of PSI, who attributes the law’s success to “the collaboration and strong support provided by the paint industry, local governments, paint recyclers, and nonprofit organizations.”
Hanz Atia, Associate for Policy and Programs at PSI, recently authored an article for Earth911, detailing the development of Oklahoma's medical sharps take-back infrastructure and the formation of the Oklahoma Meds and Sharps Disposal Committee (OMSDC), a process facilitated by PSI, which has led the national movement for proper sharps management since 2008. The article offers valuable lessons learned and practical steps for safely handling medical sharps in your community.
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USA-EU JOINT BUSINESS WORKSHOP ON PACKAGING AND ENVIRONMENT
June 6 – Cambridge, MA: Scott Cassel, CEO and Founder of PSI, will join a business workshop focused on packaging and environment hosted by the NVC Netherlands Packaging Centre. Scott will participate in the event’s interactive plenary debate on the benefits of EPR and the harmonization of sustainable packaging regulations between the United States and Europe.
ECOMAINE ANNUAL BOARD MEETING
June 20 – Portland, ME: Scott Cassel, CEO and Founder of PSI, will be the featured speaker at the Annual Board Meeting of ecomaine, a solid waste management nonprofit with 73 owned and contracted municipality members. Scott will address board members, elected officials, and city and town managers representing municipal recycling facilities, landfills, and waste to energy plants, on the expected 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 focused on product sustainability in the chemical industry, presented by Enhesa, a compliance intelligence company. Scott will present during an EPR session with 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. As the leading expert on EPR in the U.S., PSI is developing and facilitating the U.S. focused EPR session to help foster a North American dialogue on EPR. Learn more and register.
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WA Polystyrene Ban: Washington State’s polystyrene ban, which first began June 1, 2023, by banning packing peanuts, has now been expanded to include a ban on food service products and portable coolers. Read more.
MN Packaging EPR: An article from EPR Consulting Group, a PSI Partner, reports on Minnesota’s newly enacted EPR law for packaging and provides a brief comparison to existing packaging EPR laws. Read more.
NY Packaging EPR Needs Assessment: The first-phase report of New York’s Needs Assessment, initiated in anticipation of an extended producer responsibility program, is now available. It highlights gaps in the data for a comprehensive needs assessment. Read more.
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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 139 extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws across 19 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. Join us at www.productstewardship.us. | |
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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.
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