Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is gaining traction across the U.S. as a policy tool to improve sustainability and reduce the amount of materials going to landfill. When thoughtfully designed, EPR policies can increase recycling rates, drive investment in modern recycling infrastructure, and expand the use of recycled content.
What is Extended Producer Responsibility?
Extended Producer Responsibility policy leverages fees on packaging (and in some cases products such as carpet or tires) to fund infrastructure improvements that fill the gaps in the current recycling system for all materials, including plastic. This helps municipalities improve and expand local recycling efforts. Under an EPR system, producers help fund the collection, recycling, and responsible disposal of their packaging materials—encouraging better design, higher recycling rates, and more efficient use of resources.
Packaging EPR in the United States is still in its early stages, but successful implementation hinges on two foundational pillars:
- A data-rich environment
- A transparent, inclusive decision-making process
Without these, even the best policy intentions risk falling short of measurable results.
Why Better Data Is Essential for EPR Success
EPR systems require nuanced decisions—about packaging formats, material types, regional infrastructure, and recycling costs. Those decisions must be grounded in credible, detailed data. Evidence should inform, not follow, policy development.
Unfortunately, many recycling programs operate with only surface level information about material streams. To ensure fair and effective EPR policies, we need granular packaging-specific data on collection rates, contamination levels, sortability, end markets, and environmental impacts. This level of detail supports more equitable fee structures and clearer design-for-recycling guidance.
As EPR programs roll out, continuous data collection and transparent reporting will be key.
The Role of Transparency in Effective Recycling Policy
Even with the best data, trade-offs are inevitable. That’s why Extended Producer Responsibility programs must include transparent processes that allow stakeholders to weigh in, adapt and evolve the system as it matures.
Public consultations, open workshops, and opportunities for industry, local governments, and civil society to participate all help strengthen the decision-making process. Government oversight ensures that goals are met and that administrative decisions align with statutory requirements.
Transparency is especially important for small and mid-sized packaging producers, which don’t have whole in-house compliance teams and are more reliant on predictable and understandable systems to remain compliant and competitive.
Outcomes of Effective Policy
EPR is not a silver bullet, and no program will be perfect from day one. But designing EPR systems around data and transparency significantly improves the likelihood of success—and builds public confidence.
Ultimately, the true test of any EPR policy is whether it delivers real-world progress:
- Higher recycling rates
- Increased use of recycled content in new products or packaging
- Greater public access to recycling programs nationwide
- More “circular” packaging systems, where materials can be recycled again and again
EPR as a Path to a Circular Economy
America’s Plastic Makers support Extended Producer Responsibility policies that drive measurable environmental improvements and recognize the essential role of plastics in creating lightweight, efficient, and innovative packaging solutions. When built on the right foundation, EPR can help improve recycling rates.
