Product Stewardship: National Trends

Kate Hagemann Product Stewardship Institute

Advancing Recycling & Organics Management:A Sustainable Future

March 29, 2010

Who is the Product Stewardship Institute?

February 25, 2011

Non-profit founded in 2000 Membership 46 States 200+ Local governments 70+ Corporate,

Organizational, Academic & Non-U.S. Government Partners

Board of Directors: 7 states, 4 local agencies

• National product stewardship network

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Product stewardship means looking at the impact of a product:

from the time it is raw materials

until it is discarded

Raw Materials

Manufacturing

Transportation Retail Use Disposal/Recycling

PSI Principles of Product Stewardship

© Product Stewardship Institute – February 25, 2011

1. Shared Responsibility2. Cost internalization3. Incentives for Cleaner Products4. Performance goals5. Flexible Management Strategies

* Endorsements: National League of Cities, Environmental Council of States, Solid Waste Association of North America, and many other organizations

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EPR shifts the financial burden of select waste management programs

Government Private Sector

EPR shifts the costs off of government, however, government may continue to

collect.

Trend: Voluntary EPR Programs

© Product Stewardship Institute – February 25, 2011

Manufacturers• Electronics manufacturers• Call2Recycle (rechargeable batteries)• Thermostat Recycling Corporation• End of Life Vehicle Solutions Corporation (ELVS)• Pesticide containers

Retailers• Staples, Office Max, Office Depot – Computers, batteries, cell phones, toner cartridges• Home Depot and Lowe’s – CFLs, batteries• Best Buy – Electronics

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Role of Voluntary Systems

• Interim steps prior to legislation• Increase visibility of take-back programs• Allows progress on products of low

government priority• Provides collection options today

8© Product Stewardship Institute – November 3, 2010February 25, 2011

Trend: Regulated Systems

• Level the playing field (fair)

• Gives authority to agency to enforce against non-

compliant parties

• Gives authority to agency to enhance program

9© Product Stewardship Institute – November 3, 2010February 25, 2011

Extended Producer Responsibility Laws 3/11

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Legislation introduced in 2011

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State Legislative MomentumEPR Laws & EPR 2010 Legislation

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60+ EPR laws in 32 states(including laws on carpet, cell phones and

agricultural pesticide containers)

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914 23*

Trend: Applying EPR to More Products

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•Plastic Bags•Pharmaceuticals•Packaging & Printed Material•Phone books

February 25, 2011

…And More Products

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• Carpet• Mattresses• Medical sharps• Alkaline Batteries• Latex Paint• Fluorescent lamps•Gas cylinders (Pilot program in WI)

•Radioactive Devices

Legislation Introduced this year:• Auto Switches• Expanded Electronics

Program • Fluorescent Lamps• Sharps• Paint • Pharmaceuticals

Maine

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Programs in place: FIVE

Legislation Introduced this year:• Packaging (x2)• Paint (x2)• Fluorescent Lamps

Vermont

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Programs in place: Four

Legislation Introduced this year:• Rechargeable Batteries• Framework:

– Paint– Mattresses– Medical Sharps

Rhode Island

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Programs in place: Three

Legislation Introduced this year:• Paint• Thermostats

Connecticut

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Programs in place: One

Legislation Introduced this year:

- non-EPR bills

New Hampshire

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Programs in place: One

Legislation Introduced this year:• Auto Switches• Framework • Thermostats• Paint• Pharmaceuticals• Fluorescent Lighting

New York

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Programs in place: TWO

New Jersey

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Programs in place: three

EPR Laws & Legislation in the North East

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NJ NY CT RI MA NH VT ME

Framework Bill Bill Bill Bill M

Beverage Container Deposit M M M M M

Electronics M M M M Bill M M

Certain Household Batteries M M Bill M M

Auto Switches M Bill M M M M

Motor Oil Bill M

Thermostats Bill Bill M Bill M M M

Paint BillBill

Bill Bill Bill

Fluorescent lampsBill

Bill Bill M

PharmaceuticalsBill

Bill Bill

Medical Sharps Bill

Packaging/Printed Materials Bill

Cell PhonesBill

Bill

Recent developments at the local level:

• Seattle, Washington (October 2010)First mandatory opt-out law for phone books; also requires companies to pay for phone book recycling

• San Francisco, California (December 2010)Sought to create a producer-run take-back program for unwanted medicines**Resulted in negotiated agreement to have drug take-back pilot with industry funding

Even more activity on the local level

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• It’s not done significant steps– building off the experience of other states (NY E-waste)– Changing the responsibilities we assign to reducing

environmental impacts of consumer goods – Slow, systematic progress

Need to take the first step to establish the infrastructure, but having a law is not enough.

Lessons Learned

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• Recognize value of strong performance measurement– Collection rates– Recycling efficiency

rates (europe driving technology innovation)

– Convenience & Rural Coverage

Performance Goals

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1. Advocate for local ordinances and state laws

2. Provide input to policy makers about how existing systems are working

3. Encourage residents to take advantage of existing programs (mail-back & retail)

What can local governments do to promote product stewardship?

What can local governments do to promote product stewardship?

4. Raise awareness/educate your management

5. Reach out to retailers to build support, encourage them to collect

6. Reach out to manufacturers to ensure they implement their national programs in your community

• Full Membership for local governments – Educational opportunities

• Paper Source Reduction Pilot Program (Catalogues & phonebooks)

• Maximizing the use of existing programs

• Regional Meetings (May/June)

Massachusetts Product Stewardship Project

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More Information

Kate HagemannAssociate of Policy & ProgramsKate@productstewardship.us

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