New Site Launched to Promote Extended Producer Responsibility
The California Product Stewardship Council has developed a new website in its push to make extended producer responsibility a reality throughout the state.
The California Product Stewardship Council has launched a new website as part of its ongoing effort to push forward the concept of extended producer responsibility.
Extended producer responsibility (EPR), also referred to as product stewardship, makes manufacturers responsible for end-of-life management of their products, either through covering the costs of recycling and disposal or actually collecting the items.
The new California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) website gives an overview of EPR, what policies the CPSC has developed, news and the current state of what companies are doing.
The electronics industry has been a major player in voluntary EPR efforts so far, with most manufacturers offering varying types of product takeback programs.
EPR advocates want to shift the burden of financing recycling and collection systems from local government and taxpayers to the product makers. According to the CPSC, California governments alone spend more than $100 million a year on managing household hazardous waste. Much of that cost is due to state bans, which local governments must enforce, that keep items like batteries, fluorescent lights, types of paint and hypodermic needles and other “sharps” out of the trash.
Since EPR forces companies to be more aware of how their products are handled at the end of their lives, it also makes them more conscious of what goes into their products and packaging at the start of their lives.
The CPSC has been advocating a framework approach to EPR, establishing principles and procedures that can be applied to various products, instead of the current product-by-product regulatory approach.
Extended producer responsibility (EPR), also referred to as product stewardship, makes manufacturers responsible for end-of-life management of their products, either through covering the costs of recycling and disposal or actually collecting the items.
The new California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) website gives an overview of EPR, what policies the CPSC has developed, news and the current state of what companies are doing.
The electronics industry has been a major player in voluntary EPR efforts so far, with most manufacturers offering varying types of product takeback programs.
EPR advocates want to shift the burden of financing recycling and collection systems from local government and taxpayers to the product makers. According to the CPSC, California governments alone spend more than $100 million a year on managing household hazardous waste. Much of that cost is due to state bans, which local governments must enforce, that keep items like batteries, fluorescent lights, types of paint and hypodermic needles and other “sharps” out of the trash.
Since EPR forces companies to be more aware of how their products are handled at the end of their lives, it also makes them more conscious of what goes into their products and packaging at the start of their lives.
The CPSC has been advocating a framework approach to EPR, establishing principles and procedures that can be applied to various products, instead of the current product-by-product regulatory approach.
