Packaging and paper products have traditionally been some of the most recyclable materials, but in the past decade recycling rates have stagnated and most of these materials end up in landfills or even worse become litter in the environment. One of the main reasons for this is that packaging design and materials have changed – there is more plastic and multi-material materials. Consumption patterns have also changed – there are more home deliveries and takeout. Residents want to recycle – they want to do the right thing for the environment – but are often challenged, what is accepted as recyclable varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and some households don’t even have access to recycling services.
Local governments and ultimately residents have seen the costs of recycling increase following China’s National Sword policy in 2018. It has been challenging to adequately fund recycling as commodity markets for recyclable materials are volatile. Finally, there is limited transparency about how much material collected for recycling is actually getting recycled. The final destination of paper and plastic commodities is not always known.
EPR programs for packaging have been successfully operating in most parts of Europe and Canada for over two decades. They are now being implemented in the U.S. Packaging EPR laws require producers of consumer packaged goods to manage and fund a convenient, statewide program to responsibly manage packaging waste. These systems provide sustainable funding for managing packaging waste and incentivize these producers to design their packaging to reduce its end-of-life impacts through “eco-modulated fees.”
Programs
Oregon Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act
In 2021, Oregon passed SB 582, the plastic pollution and recycling modernization act, requiring producers and manufacturers of packaged items, paper products, and food serviceware to develop, fund, and manage an updated and expanded recycling system for these products. Under this program, producers will fund improvements and expand recycling services and infrastructure across Oregon, ensuring all Oregon residents have access to convenient recycling services. Oregon’s law also requires producers to conduct education and outreach to ensure Oregon residents are informed on how to properly dispose of and recycle their waste and requires the establishment of a uniform collection list to provide clarity to households and businesses about what can and cannot be recycled. Circular Action Alliance (CAA), a non-profit producer responsibility organization for paper and packaging in the U.S., was chosen to manage Oregon’s program, which will be overseen by the Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality.
Washington Recycling Reform Act
In 2025, Washington passed SB 5284 that will create an EPR program for residential packaging and paper products. EPR requires producers to manage and fund the recycling of their own packaging and paper products and to provide resources that improve Washington’s residential recycling system.
Resources
- Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) – Packaging
- Improving Recycling in Washington through Producer Responsibility Policy: Costs and Benefits
- Video: EPR for packaging and paper products in Washington
- Video: EPR 101: modernizing recycling in Washington State with the RENEW Act
- Video: Packaging EPR 101
- Video: WSRA tour of Recycle BC
About NWPSC
The Northwest Product Stewardship Council (NWPSC) is a coalition of government organizations in Washington and Oregon that work together to develop and improve Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies and programs