Why do we pay for product packaging, pay to get rid of it, and then if/when it winds up in our environment, pay with our tax dollars to clean it up?
Our recycling systems are being overwhelmed by wasteful packaging and plastic pollution that can’t be recycled. It’s causing serious problems.
Maine passed the nation’s first Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging law in 2021! Currently, Oregon, Colorado, and California have joined the party, and many more states are considering similar policies.
The EPR law is working to reduce packaging waste and increase the recyclability of products. That means the same laws could also be applied here successfully in the US.
The Natural Resources Council of Maine, has created a bunch of resources including a toolkit to help other states advance this effective solution for addressing wasteful packaging and plastic pollution!