What is extended producer responsibility (EPR)?

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), also known as Product Stewardship, is a strategy to place a shared responsibility for end-of-life product management on the producers, and all entities involved in the product chain, instead of the general public; while encouraging product design changes that minimize a negative impact on human health and the environment at every stage of the product's lifecycle. This allows the costs of treatment and disposal to be incorporated into the total cost of a product. It places primary responsibility on the producer, or brand owner, who makes design and marketing decisions. It also creates a setting for markets to emerge that truly reflect the environmental impacts of a product, and to which producers and consumers respond.

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Source:  CalRecycle

CONTACT  US:

T: 916.706.3420

E: info@calpsc.org

Copyright 2020

California Product Stewardship Council

All Rights Reserved

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THE ORGANIZATION

The California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) is a powerful network of local governments, non-government organizations, businesses, and individuals supporting policies and projects where producers share in the responsibility for managing problem products at their end of life.

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CPSC is California’s thought leader and expert on Product Stewardship and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) movement.

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EPR enjoys the support of more than 26 million Californians. That’s nearly 70% of the state's population! Nearly 150 resolutions have been passed by California local jurisdictions and organizations supporting a more sustainable and toxic free environment through product stewardship. CPSC works closely with companies like Flame King who have redesigned products for reuse as well as establishes pilot or permanent collection programs with some sharing of costs with others in the product chain.

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In July 2015, CPSC’s Founding Executive Director, Heidi Sanborn and the members of the CPSC Board created a 501(c)4, the National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC). With CPSC’s legislative successes in California, increasing demands for CPSC’s assistance had come from all across the country, creating the need for an entity that could carry CPSC’s work forward, without lobbying limits, on a national scale. In contrast to CPSC, NSAC is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that will engage primarily in lobbying and advocacy work for EPR and Product Stewardship, anywhere in the U.S. and at any level of government interested in EPR legislation. From 2015 to 2018, Heidi served as Executive Director of both CPSC and NSAC.  August 2018 brought some relief with the hiring of Doug Kobold as Executive Director of CPSC so that Heidi could focus more on the national level, while still providing support to CPSC.  As of January 1, 2020, Heidi now focuses all of her energy full-time on NSAC and promoting EPR, Product Stewardship, and the Circular Economy nationally.  CPSC greatly appreciates Heidi’s 12 years of service and looks forward to collaborating with NSAC on EPR and Product Stewardship issues here in California.

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Let us know how we can help your city or county take the first step towards adopting producer responsibility to promote safer, healthier families and communities!

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CPSC Vision

Producers have the primary responsibility to establish, fund, and manage end of life systems for their products with State government setting the performance goals and ensuring accountability and transparency.

 

CPSC Mission Statement

To shift California’s product waste management system from one focused on government funded and ratepayer financed waste diversion to one that relies on producer responsibility in order to reduce public costs and drive improvements in product design that promote environmental sustainability.

 

From the Executive Director

Welcome to the CPSC website! Our goals are to educate you about producer responsibility, inspire you, and provide you with   the tools to take action. Have a product related problem in your community? Let us know how we can help! Learn more about current sponsorship opportunities, or consider showing your support by contributing to CPSC so we can continue to work on the products that matter the most to you, your family and your community.

 

With gratitude,
Doug Kobold

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BOARD MEMBERS

Kristina Miller

Chair

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City Manager

City of Corning

Corning, CA

Kristina's bio

Manuel Medrano

Vice Chair

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Environmental Services Manager

Chula Vista, CA

Manuel's bio

Tedd Ward

Treasurer

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Del Norte Solid Waste Mgt Authority

Crescent City, CA

Tedd's bio

Gretchen Olsen

Secretary

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Solid Waste Manager

City of Stockton

Stockton, CA

Gretchen's bio

Justin Lehrer

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Senior Management Analyst

StopWaste

Oakland, CA

Justin's bio

Christine Wolfe

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Government Relations Manager, Recology

San Francisco, CA

Christine's bio

Colleen Foster

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Environmental Officer

Water Utilities Department

Oceanside, CA

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Steve Rodowick

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Recycling Coordinator

County of Butte

Oroville, CA

Steve's bio

Wes Nelson

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Sales & Marketing Manager

GreenWaste Carpet Recycling

San Jose, CA

Wes' bio

Amy Hammes

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Recycling Specialist

City of Burbank

Burbank, CA

Amy's bio

Derek Crutchfield

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Recycling Coordinator

City of Vallejo

Vallejo, CA

Derek's bio

Alexa Kielty

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Zero Waste Specialist

SF Dept of Environment

San Francisco, CA

Alexa's bio

Chris Sheppard

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Senior Civil Engineer

County of LA

Dept. of Public Works

Los Angeles, CA

Chris' bio

 

STAFF

We are a diverse group of highly accomplished experts in our fields of practice. 

We are passionate about the work we do and the communities we serve.

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Doug Kobold

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Executive Director

Doug's bio

Joanne Brasch, PhD

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Special Project Manager

Joanne's bio

Jordan Wells

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Special Projects Manager II

Jordan's bio

Nate Pelczar, MPA

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Special Project Manager

Nate's bio

Justin Weiss

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Senior Associate

Justin's bio

David Yeshiwas

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Intern

David's bio

 

 

 

ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

2019 Annual Report

2018 Annual Report

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AWARDS

 

Arrow Awards

 

Overview

The California Product Stewardship Council recognizes California businesses for outstanding leadership, innovation and partnerships in product stewardship and green design. The Arrow Awards recognize innovative product stewardship programs, outstanding partnerships in product stewardship and serve to inspire organizations to integrate the principles of product stewardship.

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Learn more about current and previous awards!

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Eligibility

Any business entity (division or facility located in California), third party stewardship organizations and non‐profits are eligible to apply.

 

Award Recipient Benefits

  • A custom-designed award made of recycled materials by Bay Area artist Ellen Blakeley presented at an evening awards event attended by more than 700 local and state government representatives, state legislators and industry representatives.

  • Statewide media coverage

  • Organization’s profile on CPSC’s Arrow Awards web page for one year

  • Organization’s profile in CPSC’s electronic newsletter, distributed to more than 3,000 viewers

  • Organization’s video (if submitted) uploaded to CPSC’s YouTube Channel

  • Use of Arrow Awards medallion on organization’s public relations materials

  • Ongoing promotion and support from CPSC

  • A link from CPSC’s website to award recipients

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Award Categories

Overall Excellence Award:  The Golden Arrow Award for Overall Excellence in Product Stewardship

This award will be given to a company that demonstrates excellence in several aspects of product stewardship, including green design, toxics reduction, packaging reduction, increased reuse, repair, re-manufacture, convenient product take-back and end of life (EOL) management for one or more products.

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Note: Do not apply for this award. The Golden Arrow Award winner will be selected by the review panel from the applicants of the categories below. If you wish to be considered for the Golden Arrow Award, then ensure your application speaks to all three individual categories.

 

Green Arrow Award for System and Design Innovations

This award will be given to a company that demonstrates an innovative product, package or system-approach that removes or reduces toxic or other problematic attributes present in other similar products. Examples: citrus cleaners that replace petroleum solvents; refillable packaging vs. one-way disposable; integrated (cradle-to-cradle) approach to providing a product, i.e., prepaid mailer to return product to manufacturer for reuse or recycling.

 

The Bow and Arrow Award for Coalition Building

This award will be given to a company or group that has excelled in building partnerships and demonstrating the inter-dependence between producers, distributors, retailers, public agencies and other stakeholders. The award may recognize a producer, a group of producers, an industry or trade association, or a stewardship organization that works with public agencies, retailers or other stakeholders to deal with EOL issues.

 

The Infinity Arrow Award for Service and Take-Back

This award will recognize a retail business, group of businesses, or chain that has initiated an outstanding Take Back program for one or more product as an additional convenience and service to their customers, and works with the producers of those products in developing safe storage and recovery of EOL products and packages.

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Read more about current and previous

award winning companies. View pictures

from the ceremonies and see the press on

CPSC's arrow awards.

 

Pictured right: CPSC board members awarding

Sports Basement the infinity award in 2018.

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Legislative Awards

 

Overview

The California Product Stewardship Council recognizes California legislators for outstanding leadership, innovative solutions, and development of strategic partnerships in regards to statewide policies on product stewardship and green design.

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Associate/Partner of the Year Awards

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Overview

The California Product Stewardship Council recognizes associates and partners for outstanding leadership in their field, innovative solutions to longstanding issues, and effective partnership in regards to product stewardship and green design in California.

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PRESS FEATURING CPSC

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SPONSORS

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Thank you to our sponsors and associates for supporting CPSC!

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CPSC represents countless cities, towns, and other jurisdictions here in California.  We are grateful for their financial support, along with various other sponsors, and all that they do to further our mission and vision for material management in California.

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Platinum Sponsors ($10,000 or more)

Gold Sponsors ($5,000 to $9,999)​

Silver Sponsors ($2,500 to $4,999)

Bronze Sponsors

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Peninsula Packaging Company, LLC

Zanker Recycling

Ecology Action

Potential Industries, Inc.

California Resource Recovery Association

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Green Sponsors

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California Association of Recycling Market Development Zones

TDC Environmental

Business Waste Management Consulting

Green Cities of California