12.2 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes are a key policy tool for promoting circularity. They shift the responsibility for managing a product's entire lifecycle to manufacturers, encouraging better design and waste reduction.

EPR implementation involves various mechanisms like take-back programs and producer compliance schemes. These approaches aim to increase recycling, reduce waste, conserve resources, and support circular economy principles, while also creating economic opportunities.

EPR Fundamentals

Producer Responsibility Concepts

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• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) shifts responsibility for product lifecycle management to manufacturers
• Product stewardship involves shared responsibility among stakeholders for environmental impacts throughout a product's lifecycle
• Individual producer responsibility requires each manufacturer to manage its own products' end-of-life
• Collective producer responsibility allows manufacturers to collaborate on managing product waste

EPR Mechanisms and Approaches

• EPR expands manufacturer obligations beyond production and sale to include post-consumer waste management
• Product stewardship encourages design for recyclability and reduced environmental impact
• Individual producer responsibility incentivizes companies to improve product design for easier recycling
• Collective producer responsibility enables cost-sharing and economies of scale in waste management

EPR Implementation

Collection and Management Systems

• Take-back programs require manufacturers to collect and recycle their products at end-of-life
• Waste collection systems organize the gathering of discarded products from consumers
• Producer compliance schemes establish industry-wide standards for product collection and recycling
• EPR fees fund recycling infrastructure and operations, typically added to product prices

Operational Strategies

• Take-back programs can include mail-in options, in-store drop-offs, or scheduled pickups (electronics recycling)
• Waste collection involves strategic placement of collection points and efficient transportation logistics
• Producer compliance schemes often involve third-party organizations managing recycling on behalf of multiple manufacturers
• EPR fees vary based on product type, recyclability, and environmental impact (higher fees for hard-to-recycle items)

EPR Goals

Environmental Objectives

• Recycling targets set specific percentages of products or materials to be recycled (75% of packaging by 2030)
• Waste reduction aims to decrease the overall volume of waste sent to landfills or incineration
• Resource conservation focuses on minimizing the use of virgin materials in production
• Circular economy principles promote keeping resources in use for as long as possible

Economic and Social Impacts

• Recycling targets create markets for recycled materials and drive innovation in recycling technologies
• Waste reduction leads to lower waste management costs for municipalities and reduced environmental pollution
• Resource conservation helps preserve natural habitats and reduces the environmental impact of resource extraction
• Circular economy goals stimulate new business models (product-as-a-service) and job creation in repair and refurbishment sectors