Across North America, recycling systems are undergoing the most significant transformation in decades. At the center of that shift is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): a policy approach that transfers the costs and operational responsibility for managing packaging waste from municipalities to the producers who place those materials into the marketplace.

If your business manufactures, imports, or sells packaged goods, EPR is no longer something on the horizon. It’s here. It’s expanding. And it’s reshaping the rules of packaging, recycling, and environmental compliance.

RTS is here to help you understand what’s changing and what it means for your organization.

 

What Is EPR, and Why Is It Growing?

EPR programs require producers to fund, report, and in some cases redesign the packaging materials they sell. Instead of municipalities covering the cost of collection and recycling, producers contribute fees and data to support more efficient, higher‑performing recycling systems.

At its core, EPR shifts financial responsibility for a product’s entire lifecycle—from design through disposal—to the brands that bring it to market. The term “producers” is broader than it sounds: it includes manufacturers of branded goods, importers of packaged products, private‑label sellers, and companies selling through e‑commerce.

How EPR Works

Under a typical EPR framework, producers pay small fees on covered packaging and paper products. Those fees are collected by a Producer Responsibility Organization
(PRO)—a nonprofit created by producers to deliver on recycling goals set out in the governing law. The PRO develops a recycling plan reviewed by an advisory council of stakeholders: haulers, materials recovery facilities (MRFs), environmental advocates, and consumer representatives. A state agency then approves the final plan. Once active, producers contract with or reimburse the haulers and sorting facilities delivering recycling services in a given community.

EPR vs. Product Stewardship

EPR is often confused with product stewardship, the broader principle that producers bear responsibility for what they put into the marketplace. EPR is a specific policy mechanism within that framework. Bottle bills—requiring deposits on beverage containers—are a familiar, narrow example. Packaging EPR is far more expansive, covering virtually all consumer‑facing packaging and paper products.

Types of Waste and Materials Covered

EPR isn’t new. Programs have existed for years covering:

  • Batteries
  • Paint
  • Electronics
  • Mattresses
  • Tires
  • Household hazardous waste

What’s new is the rapid expansion into packaging and paper products, which touches almost every consumer‑facing industry.

Emerging programs are beginning to address textiles and other hard‑to‑recycle materials—signaling that EPR’s scope will only continue to grow.

Where EPR Stands Today in the U.S.

In the U.S., EPR for packaging is enacted at the state level. Seven states have now passed comprehensive packaging EPR laws, each with distinct timelines and scopes:

Maine (2021)
  • Covers most consumer packaging materials (plastic, paper, glass, metal,
    cardboard)
  • Producer registration and reporting due by May 2026
Oregon (2022)
  • Covers packaging, printing/writing paper, and food service ware
  • Recycling system changes began in July 2025
Colorado (2022)
  • Requires producers of paper packaging to fund statewide recycling
  • Annual fees tied to materials supplied
California (2022)
  • One of the broadest laws in the country
  • Covers all single‑use packaging and single‑use plastic food service items
  • Producers must ensure these materials are recyclable or compostable
Minnesota (2024)
  • Requires producers of packaging, food packaging, and paper products to pay increasing shares of recycling costs over time
Maryland (2025)
  • Covers single‑use packaging and printed paper
  • Requires development of a statewide recyclable materials list
Washington (2025)
  • Covers packaging and paper products
  • Producers must join a PRO by July 1, 2026
  • Phased implementation follows

With additional states evaluating policy, national momentum is increasing.

EPR in Canada: Further Along Than You Think

Canada is further along, with EPR at or nearing full operation across nearly all provinces. Programs cover packaging and paper products (PPP), and every province is moving toward harmonized data standards, higher recovery targets, and stricter enforcement.

British Columbia has long been a program leader and serves as a model for other provinces. Ontario completed its full EPR transition in 2025. Alberta’s PPP rollout is underway, and Quebec is in the midst of a phased transition. Across all provinces, producers face a common set of obligations:

What producers must do:

  • Fund collection and recycling
  • Report detailed supply data
  • Join or work through a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO)
  • Meet material‑specific recovery targets

What’s next:

  • Expansion into more material streams
  • Tighter verification and auditing
  • Higher fees for hard‑to‑recycle packaging
  • Greater scrutiny and enforcement nationwide

EPR is quickly becoming a core compliance obligation for any brand operating in Canada.

Who Is Affected?

Directly Obligated Producers

Companies that:

  • Manufacture branded goods
  • Import packaged products
  • Sell private‑label items
  • Supply goods via e‑commerce

This typically includes CPG brands, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and importers.

Indirectly Affected Organizations

Even if you aren’t a producer, EPR can affect:

  • Retail stores
  • Office buildings
  • Multi‑tenant properties
  • Food service establishments
  • Event venues and cinemas

Expect potential changes to recycling operations, data needs, and cost structures.

Benefits and Challenges of EPR

EPR has a strong track record in markets where it’s been implemented—and it’s worth understanding both sides of the conversation.

The Case for EPR

  • Increased recycling and collection rates across participating jurisdictions
  • Reduced public spending on waste disposal and landfill management
  • Financial incentives for producers to design more recyclable, reusable, or
    compostable packaging
  • Greater consistency for residents—same materials accepted statewide, regardless
    of where they live

Common Criticisms
Two objections surface repeatedly: that EPR raises consumer prices, and that it hands producers too much control over public recycling systems. Neither has been borne out in practice. Compliance fees are integrated into the cost of doing business—not passed to consumers. And EPR programs have consistently maintained or improved service levels compared to pre‑EPR systems.

EPR and the Circular Economy

EPR’s primary goal is to deliver the circular economy at scale—keeping materials in use longer and reducing dependence on virgin resources. When EPR systems work well, recovered packaging becomes feedstock for manufacturing new products from recycled content, driving down greenhouse gas emissions in the process. Eco‑modulation—fee structures that reward producers for more recyclable packaging designs—creates a direct financial incentive to close the loop upstream, before materials ever become waste.

Key Business Impacts

EPR is more than a policy change—it’s a business transformation. Impacts include:

  • Eco‑fees and program costs based on the materials you supply
  • Mandatory reporting with increasing granularity
  • Packaging redesign pressures to reduce fees
  • Audit and data verification requirements
  • Compliance risk if reporting is incomplete or inaccurate

How RTS Helps You Succeed

Navigating EPR doesn’t have to be overwhelming. RTS supports organizations with:

  • Producer obligation assessments Know where you’re covered, where you’re obligated, and what actions to take
  • EPR‑ready data systems Capture, categorize, and report packaging data with confidence
  • Waste audits and material validation Strengthen reporting accuracy
  • Benchmarking and cost optimization Identify opportunities to reduce fees
  • Circularity and design improvement pathways Drive upstream change

EPR is accelerating across North America and the compliance window is narrowing. The organizations that move now to assess their obligations, build reporting infrastructure, and partner with experienced advisors will be better positioned to manage costs and avoid enforcement risk as programs mature. RTS is ready to help you get there.