US communities and states that have implemented alternatives to extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies are achieving high municipal solid waste recycling rates at reasonable costs while also addressing a wider spectrum of the waste stream than narrowly focused EPR mandates, according to a study conducted by consulting firm SAIC for the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA). The report, Evaluation of Extended Producer Responsibility for Consumer Packaging, shows mandatory EPR programs aimed at food, beverage and consumer product packaging would not deliver their promise of creating more cost-effective residential recycling programs and driving packaging redesign.
“The food, beverage and consumer products industry is committed to environmental stewardship and reducing its impact on the environment,” says Meghan Stasz, senior director of sustainability at GMA. “As part of this commitment, America’s food, beverage and consumer products industry is working to identify efficient, holistic waste reduction and recycling solutions that work for consumers and communities, and this analysis by SAIC tells us that EPR does not meet those standards.”