EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY Lynne Pledger lpledger@cleanwater.org GRRN Zero Waste Conference, October 20, 2009

955

92

187

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1900NYC

Poun

ds /

Cap

ita /

Yea

r

InorganicsBiowasteProducts

14

358

607

1960USA

25

387

1,213

2000USA

“Waste Generated”

Waste has changed since 1900

Today’s Material Flow

NaturalResources

Goods andServices

Pollution, Waste and Environmental

Disturbances

Approximately 25% of what goes ‘in the pipe’ comes out as goods and services.

Waste from your production process, including goods that are no longer useable, is returned back to the planet creating additional pollution and environmental disturbance.

3

Landfill

• Why do we have so much solid waste?

• Why is solid waste so toxic?

• Why aren’t all products repairable or recyclable?

5

Questions

One Answer

• Brand-owners don’t pay for solid waste management.

Disposable and toxic

Products are disposable

by design

US Greenhouse Gas EmissionsReports

© 2009 Product Policy Institute

* Use of Appliances and Devices

7%

Provisionof Food

12%

Non-local PassengerTransport

9%

Building HVAC and Lighting

21%

Local PassengerTransport

13%

US Greenhouse Gas EmissionsConsumption View – Global

Source: PPI 2009 – Joshuah Stolaroff

Products & Packaging44%

Use *

Provision of Goods37%

Infra-structure

1%

© 2009 Product Policy Institute

Because most GHG emissions come from production, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is recommended

because it addresses product design.

EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY

* REQUIRES PRODUCERS TO PAY FOR DISCARD MANAGEMENT

* GIVES PRODUCERS INCENTIVE TO REDESIGN THEIR PRODUCTS

PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP

Producers have the most responsibility because they design and market the products.

DESIGNING WASTE AWAYExample: a component redesigned to be cleaned can be reused instead of discarded.

EXTENDENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY

Benefits of EPR:• More products diverted from disposal• Products redesigned to be more durable, recylable and less toxic • More jobs• Costs savings for local governments

PRODUCT COLLECTION PLANS

Must be approved by the state regulatory agency

May utilize retailers, local charities, local businesses, municipal infrastructure, or the mail—depending upon the producer’s business plan.

• Green Dot program in Germany one of the first in 1992, placed tax on excess packaging not recovered by the manufacturer

• European Union requires Take Back for motor vehicles and electronic waste (WEEE directive)

• EPR for packaging is the law in 30 countries – 24 European, 3 Asian, Australia, Peru & Quebec.

• 9 countries require Electronics Take Back• 15 countries require battery Take Back.• Canada has over 30 national & provincial

take back programs.

EPR is the law in 30 countries

16

BRAND OWNERS PAYFor more drop-off locations

or for use of municipal facilities

How can EPR support local business development and the reduce, reuse, recycle hierarchy?

EPR bill language

Local stakeholder input on legislation and produce plans

Local government Product Stewardship Council advocacy

MORE LOCAL JOBS?Goodwill Industries in Washington state has been able to hire more people since EPR for electronics has been implemented.

24 © 2009 Product Policy Institute

~Local Government Product Stewardship Councils

September 2009

Oregon

Washington

Hawaii

Northwest

California

British Columbia

Nova Scotia

VT

Texas

New York

Midwest

CT

24 © 2009 Product Policy Institute

CLEAN WATER ACTION CAMPAIGN FLIER