Lorax EPI

Packaging EPR is one step closer for New York State
by Rachel Langhill at 14:40 in Emerging, Environmental, Packaging

On 15th March 2021, the New York Senate Majority passed its one-house budget resolution. While most of the proposal is focused on providing emergency aid to help the state recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, it also includes initiatives that prioritise environmental justice and pollution reduction. Specifically, the Senate Majority one-house State Budget resolution includes the state's packaging and printed paper extended producer responsibility (PPP EPR) proposal.

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First introduced on 8th January, Senate Bill 1185 has since been amended twice with minor changes to the proposed timeline and operational structure. As currently written, the bill would make manufacturers or importers of all flexible and rigid packaging materials, printed paper and paper products responsible, both financially and logistically, for collecting and managing such materials at their end-of-life.

Producers, either individually or collectively under a producer responsibility organisation (PRO), would also be required to establish recovery, recycling and post-consumer recycled content (PCR) targets that must be met within five years of a plan's approval. Plans would be reviewed by a newly established producer responsibility advisory board, and producers or PROs would be required to report on progress towards achieving targets annually, beginning one year after plan approval.

The Senate Budget resolution will now be negotiated between the Senate, Assembly and Governor. The final budget is scheduled to pass by 1st April, so the very first packaging EPR regulations could soon come online in the United States. However, if it does not make it into the final budget, it is expected that the packaging EPR bill would pass as part of the Earth Day bill package that is slated for 22nd April.

In recent years, state bills for packaging EPR have been gaining popularity, and Lorax EPI has been monitoring them closely. With our acquisition of Environmental Packaging International in 2019, we now have offices in both the United Kingdom and the United States to support our customers in navigating the rapidly expanding, and often confusing, landscape of extended producer responsibility. Our international team of experienced consultants are prepared to help your business understand requirements that would come from New York and potentially other states, and our in-house software developers are ready to assist with the mandatory environmental compliance submissions that would follow. To learn more about how Lorax EPI can assist with your legal product stewardship reporting obligations, click here or contact us today.


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