Resources

Problem: Our "Throw-away" Society

Every year, Americans throw away the equivalent of 50 Great Pyramids worth of "trash."  The products and packaging that we discard represent staggering amounts of natural resources and the embodied energy required to manufacture products from virgin materials.  Our "throw-away" society did not happen by accident.  Policy decisions over the last century - by government and industry - have led to today's unsustainable economy.

Extended Producer Responsibility

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), also called "manufacturer "take-back" is a policy approach that makes manufacturers responsible for managing their products and packaging when consumers are finished with them.  With producer responsibility, manufacturers have an incentive to design their products to to use less material, last longer, be reusable, and be recycled at the end of their useful life – turning what was formerly “waste” into the “food” for industry and the next generation of products.

Legislative Toolkit

A toolkit for legislators and advocates with accessible information about extended producer responsibility and resources for campaign initiatives.