Transcript What is Product Stewardship and EPR?

Product Stewardship and
Extended Producer Responsibility
Northwest Product Stewardship Council
Product Stewardship
Product Stewardship is an environmental
management strategy that means whoever
designs, produces, sells, or uses a product
takes responsibility for minimizing the product's
environmental impact throughout all stages of
the products' life cycle. The greatest
responsibility lies with whoever has the most
ability to affect the lifecycle environmental
impacts of the product.
Extended Producer Responsibility
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
– an environmental policy approach in which a
producer’s responsibility, physical and/or financial,
for a product is extended to the post-consumer stage
of a product’s life cycle (OECD, 2001)
• Often used interchangeably with “product
stewardship”
• Similar terms:
– Manufacturer/Producer Responsibility
– Shared Responsibility
Related Concepts
• Cradle-to-Cradle manufacturing
– Design of products whose materials are perpetually
circulated back into commerce in closed loops.
Maintaining materials in closed loops maximizes
material value and commercial use without
damaging ecosystems.
• organic nutrient stream
• technical nutrient stream
• Green Chemistry
– Design of chemical products and processes that
reduce or eliminate the use and generation of
hazardous substances.
Examples of Product Stewardship
• Manufacturers finance or provide take back programs
for recycling or special disposal.
• Manufacturer redesign and reformulation of products to
make products:
– non or less toxic, such as eliminating PBDEs or mercury
– more recyclable, such as using easy-to-recycle materials
– easier to disassemble, such as reducing and standardizing
types of fasteners
– more energy efficient, such as meeting Energy Star criteria
– made with recycled content
– Etc.
Why is This Important to Us?
• Much waste we are handling is manufactured products.
• Most of these products are produced far away and
globally, but the environmental end-of-life impacts are
local.
• Local governments in the past have been responsible
for providing end-of-life management and disposal.
• These costs are ever increasing due to the design and
formulation of the products: toxic, not recyclable, hard
to disassemble, etc. and cost to properly handle.
• Since local governments have no control over the
design of the products, but have had the responsibility
for financing their disposal, there has been no feedback
loop to the design/manufacturing process.
EPR Provides Many Solutions
• Manufacturer financing or take-back of products
provides an economic feedback loop that then
influences design, leading to cleaner, safer products
and less cost for future end-of-life management
• Removes program or financing burden from local
governments (or provides financing)
• Provides much more convenient options to customers
than what government can provide
• Results in greater recovery of toxic and recyclable
materials
EPR Provides Many Solutions
• EPR keeps resources circulating in commerce,
creating jobs and business opportunities that
are lost when materials are disposed.
• EPR harnesses business know how and
relationships to develop superior, more effective
and less expensive programs.
• Some manufacturers favor instead of
prescriptive regulations.
• Provides non-tax solution to problems.
Origin and Development of EPR
• 1990 “EPR” first coined for Swedish Environment Ministry by
Thomas Lindhqvist, Lund University
• 1991 German Packaging Ordinance – the first EPR program - shifts
responsibility for packaging waste to industry – DSD “Green Dot”
system (essentially, producers of packaging finance curbside
recycling collection)
• Progressive expansion of EPR from packaging to other products batteries, electronics, refrigerants, tires, appliances, end of life
vehicles, paint . . .
• 1995 – OECD EPR work program commences – Guidance Manual
published 2001
• EU electronics directive (WEEE, RoHS) January 2003 - mandates
EPR, and sets toxic substance limits – implementation starting 2006
• EPR spreading through Canada, Europe, Asia, beginning in U.S.
and Americas. China adopting electronic standards similar to EU.
Many Examples of EPR
• Voluntary and Legislated Programs
• Both have been stimulated by legislative action
or anticipation of legislative action.
• Legislation usually needed to:
– Level playing field so all participate and finance, not
just a few
– Provide general performance standards and
collection rates
– Enable industry-established Stewardship
Organizations to collect fees for financing.
– Drive material into programs by banning disposal
Example: Electronics
• Throughout EU, Japan, Taiwan, beginning in Canada
and China, etc.
• Washington State Electronics Recycling Law
– Passed 2006, establishes program 2009
– Similar approach now incorporated into models/legislation by
10 Northeast states, 5 Midwest states and Oregon
– Similar approach endorsed by resolution of Council of State
Governments (Nov. 30, 2006)
• Dell Global Recycling Policy
– Free recycling of any Dell product from individual anywhere.
– Free recycling of similar other-brand product when purchasing
Dell product.
Example: Electronics
• Hewlett-Packard
• Key Supporter of Washington State Law
• Operates its own electronics recycling facilities
in partnership with Noranda
• Target is to take back one billion lbs of product
by 2007 with return and recycling services in
more than 40 countries
Examples: Electronics
“Marcy Eastham, Northwest governmental-affairs
manager for Hewlett Packard, said her company long
ago concluded it was desirable to design products with
end-of-life in mind. Older model laptops used a variety
of screws until it dawned on HP recyclers it was faster
to break down machines with one type of screw.
Adhesives are scrutinized for their harm to the
environment and their role in recycling. HP also strongly
believed the cost of recycling should not be carried by a
consumer fee, as is the case in California's law.“
- Seattle Times Editorial, Nov. 14, 2006
Examples: Electronics
Example: Pharmaceuticals
Example: Pharmaceuticals
Ex.: Batteries and Cell Phones
Ex.: Batteries and Cell Phones
Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC)
– Financed by manufacturers.
– Has over 30,000 retail collection locations for rechargeable
batteries and cell phones.
Examples of national retailers that participate in the RBRC
Call2Recycle program:
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Best Buy
Black & Decker
Cingular Wireless
Circuit City
The Home Depot
Lowe's
Office Depot
RadioShack
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RadioShack
Sears
Staples
Target
US Cellular
Verizon Wireless
Example: Thermostats
Example: Auto Switches
Example: Auto Switches
Example: Paint, Etc.
Example: Used Oil
Example: Tires
EPR Programs Common in Canada
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Used or Expired Medication
Used Tires
Used Oil, Containers and Filters
Used Oil Only
Used Electronics
Used Paint, Stains and Varnishes
Spent Lead Acid Batteries
Used Solvents/Flammable Liquids, Gasoline,
Pesticides, etc.
EPR Programs in Canada
NW Product Stewardship Council
• The Northwest Product Stewardship Council is a group
of local, state and federal government agencies that
works with businesses and nonprofit groups to integrate
product stewardship principles into the policy and
economic structures of the Pacific Northwest.
• Steering Committee Members include:
– Cities of Tacoma and Seattle
– Washington Counties of King, Kitsap, Snohomish, Thurston,
Walla Walla, and Yakima
– Oregon Metro and Oregon Department of Environmental
Quality
– EPA, Region X
– Washington State Department of Ecology
NW Product Stewardship Council
• In 2007, several steering committee agencies
received grants from the Department of
Ecology through the Coordinated Prevention
Grant Program for 20007-08.
– $253,000 to support product stewardship work
– $100,000 to coordinate council activities and
implement the NWPSC Communications Plan.
• Subcommittee work includes:
– Electronics, Pharmaceuticals, Mercury-containing
products, Paint, Beverage Containers, Tires
– Legislation Subcommittee
– Chemicals Policy Subcommittee
Next Steps: Electronics
• Represent governments in the WA Electronics
Product Recycling Law rule-making process.
• Assist local businesses (retailers, collectors,
processors, and charities) with the transition to
new WA electronics recycling program.
• Assist with the expansion of Take it Back
Network to more businesses, so they can
benefit from new system AND provide more
convenient services to our citizens.
• Assisting Oregon with passage of an
Electronics Product Stewardship law.
Next Steps: Pharmaceuticals
• Conduct a pilot project to collect unwanted
medicines at pharmacies in Washington.
– Modeled after the B.C. system.
• Expand the pilot project to more pharmacies
and additional locations: hospice, adult care,
etc.
• Develop relationships and support with
manufacturers.
• Participate in regional and national dialogue.
• Prepare for state Product Stewardship
legislation for unwanted medicines.
Next Steps: Mercury
• Participate in pilot project to expand Thermostat
Recycling Corporation (TRC) program to public
facilities.
• Work to find an ongoing product stewardship
solution for fluorescent compact bulbs and
tubes.
• Expand Take it Back Network to collect
mercury-containing devices.
• Recruit HVAC contractors into TRC program.
• Recruit auto wrecking yards into End of Life
Vehicles Solutions (ELVS) program.
Next Steps: Paint
• Participate in current national dialogue with
paint manufacturers lead by the Product
Stewardship Institute to establish a national
system to deal with excess paint.
• Participate in regional pilots identified by
national dialogue.
Next Steps: Beverage Containers
• Coordinate the Washington State Beverage
Container Recycling Initiative to conduct pilot
projects to test the use of incentives to increase
the collection, recovery and recycling of used
beverage containers in Washington State.
• Track and provide input to the Oregon
legislative process to amend the bottle bill to
include product stewardship elements to
increase recovery of beverage containers.
Next Steps: Tires
• Follow state legislation to ensure that tire funds
are allocated to pursue product stewardship
solutions for used tires.
• Monitor developments on tire pile clean up and
funding.
Next Steps: Legislative Subcommittee
• Monitor legislation in Oregon and Washington
to support bills that are favorable to product
stewardship programs and policies.
• Provide an analysis of new bills and
recommended actions to steering committee
agencies and other local governments.
Anticipated: Legislation
• PBDE Ban (2007)
• Pharmaceuticals (2008 -2009)
• Specific or All Mercury Containing Devices (2008 +)
– Mercury thermostats
– Mercury switches
– Compact fluorescent lamps and tubes (likely financed by fee on
incandescent bulbs)
• Tires (2009 - 2010)
• Framework Legislation (2008 – 2010+)
• Paint, Packaging, Others - ?
Bills in WA, OR, CA and many other states
Additional Actions Possible
• Develop policy statements for WSAC, WACO,
NACO etc.
• Establish local government resolutions on EPR.
– Rapid new development in California
• Bring in national/international experts for
industry forums on cradle-to-cradle, green
chemistry, meeting EU standards, etc.
Coordination: Many Parties
The NWPSC shares information and coordinates
activities with many parties in the public, nonprofit and private sector.
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U.S. EPA
Department of Ecology
Policy Forum
State Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Product Stewardship Institute
Product Policy Institute
North America Hazardous Materials Management
Association
– Environmental NGOs: WCRC, WEC, WA Toxics
Coalition
Contact Information
Contact the NWPSC Coordinator with questions
and comments at (206) 723-0528
Email at
[email protected]
Web site
www.productstewardship.net