Latest News

Talking Trash and beverage containers

Changing Markets recently published two reports in 2020 on container deposit laws / deposit return systems (DRS), one on California (Genie in a Bottle: Unlocking the full potential of California’s bottle bill) and the other on Austria (Plastic Pollution Lobby: A coalition against the introduction of a deposit return system in Austria).

Carpet industry ends "voluntary product stewardship" program

The U.S. carpet manufacturing industry's voluntary product stewardship program, begun in 2014 to "find market-based solutions to divert carpet from landfills and to quell extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation," will end in June 2020.

HPSA announces new director

The Health Products Stewardship Association, a not-for-profit organization responsible for the effective and safe collection and disposal of unused and expired medications and medical sharps in Canada, announced a change in leadership after more than 15 years.

Maine considers EPR for packaging bill

In March 2020, Maine's legislature held hearings on a new packaging EPR bill, An Act To Support and Increase the Recycling of Packaging (LD 2104); though it did not move forward it was approved to "carry over."

Federal "Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act" introduced

In February 2020, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) unveiled their comprehensive legislation to tackle the plastic waste crisis, the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2020.

EPR for PPP - PSI report on proven strategies and policy options

A March 25, 2020 report from the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), outlines problems faced by US recycling programs and how extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs in four Canadian provinces have increased packaging recovery and recycling, reduced contamination, and developed markets for difficult-to-recycle materials. It also provides a detailed case study of the packaging EPR program in British Columbia, North America's first full producer responsibility program for packaging and paper products (PPP).

Washington and California legislators talk EPR in Seattle

California CFEE visit to Recycle BC, via Fiona MaWashington Senators Das and Carlyle, Representatives Doglio and Fitzgibbon, and a contingent of legislators from California met in Seattle on August 1, 2019 to talk about extended producer responsibility (EPR), energy, environment, and the climate work that was achieved this past session.

Federal proposal to "tackle plastic waste pollution crisis"

In a July 2019 press release, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) announced that they plan to introduce comprehensive legislation this fall to tackle the plastic waste crisis.

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