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EPR is not just a concept for California...nor is it just for the U.S. In fact, the United States is behind the curve — European nations, Canada and other countries have already implemented successful EPR policies (in some cases, programs have been in place for more than a decade). There is much to be learned from these successful models so CPSC keeps a close eye on what's happening around the globe. Quite frankly, EPR is just the way businesses, well..., do business in other countries!
Australia
A committee of the Australian Senate has issued a report recommending the expediting of the establishment of EPR arrangements for "identified products of national significance," including e-waste and fluorescent lamps.
Canada
- Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Extended Producer Responsibility Task Group
This group was established to provide guidance on the development and implementation of EPR and product stewardship programs, and to consider packaging as a first priority.
The EPR Task Group's mandate is to
- identify opportunities to harmonize, make consistent where appropriate, expand, and improve EPR programs;
- develop general guidance on EPR issues;
- identify and explore opportunities to forge strategies for new EPR initiatives; and
- facilitate EPR communications and information exchange among jurisdictions.
- Report on Waste Diversion 10/09
The Ontario Ministry of Environment has released a report, “From Waste to Worth: The Role of Waste Diversion in the Green Economy.” The report, proposes bold changes for Ontario’s waste diversion program, including making individual producers responsible for both residential and commercially generated and meet outcome-based requirements for their individual businesses rather than EPR systems overall. Individual producers would be required to report annually on their sales of designated products into Ontario markets. The Ministry is accepting comments on report recommendations through January 11, 2010.
- Report on Canadian EPR Programs 10/09
The Northwest Product Stewardship Council completed a report, “Product Stewardship in Canada: Legislative Framework of Provincial Programs.” This report answers questions about provincial product stewardship programs in Canada. Canadian provinces established product stewardship in the 1990’s have experienced impressive evolution, growth and success. As groups in the U.S. consider product stewardship programs, Canadian programs may provide useful models and lessons for legislation and regulation. This is a must-read for policy makers considering EPR legislation.
- Canada proposes federal EPR packaging rule
- Extended Producer Responsibility Product Evaluation Tool
British Columbia
British Columbia is the North American leader in the development of EPR programs. For more background, read the background report.
Nova Scotia
- New Policy Directions for Nova Scotia 7/09
This report, starting on page 114, discusses the impacts of cost internalization of end of life costs for products and how that increased economic benefits to Nova Scotia’s residents and states “From a full-cost accounting perspective, when the new Nova Scotia solid waste-resource system was compared to the old pre-1997 system, it produced net savings of at least $31.2 million. This translates into net savings of $33 a year for each Nova Scotian, as opposed to the cost of $25 indicated in a conventional comparison of the operating and amortized capital costs of the two systems.”
Ontario
- Position on Full EPR Funding of Ontario’s Packaging System 06/08
Attached is the official position paper of the Municipal Waste Integration Network (MWIN) in regard to the funding of recycling and overall waste management in Ontario. This is very important news: MWIN has now joined with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the Association of of Municipal Recycling Coordinators (AMRC) in officially endorsing full Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for waste products and packaging, and full industry funding of the management of all waste or recyclable materials at end-of-life.
The three major associations with an interest in the municipal waste management system in Ontario are now philosophically aligned with the product stewardship councils in B.C., California and elsewhere and are actively pushing for this major paradigm shift. It's important that people in other provinces and states be made aware of this situation, even though it will take time to bring the vision to full fruition.
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Guy Crittenden, Editor, Solid Waste & Recycling Magazine
Europe
EU Report on the Packaging Directive in Europe 6/06
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