Environment

Bills aimed at reducing waste shift onus to producers

Extended producer responsibility legislation has been introduced in states across the country.
This Feb. 2, 2015 photo shows examples of new Energizer EcoAdvanced batteries, at the company’s headquarters in St. Louis, touted as the first AA and AAA batteries made in part from recycled batteries. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

At least a dozen states have considered legislation this year that would require producers to develop and finance a system to recycle and dispose of a variety of consumer products, including packaging, propane tanks and hazardous household waste.

The Minnesota Senate Environment Climate and Legacy Committee advanced a so-called extended producer responsibility bill last week that focused on packaging materials. Typical of most EPR bills, it would require that producers establish a producer responsibility organization, which encourages a redesign of packaging and develops a stewardship plan for the materials’ collection and reuse.

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