SWANA launches guiding principles and a  technical policy regarding extended producer responsibility

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) published new guiding principles and a  technical policy regarding extended producer responsibility (EPR). Both documents address key aspects of EPR policy for products and packaging, emphasizing the role of EPR in supporting recycling and reuse systems, promoting safety, as well as enhancing recycling infrastructure and education. As defined by the SWANA Guiding Principles, the EPR policy holds that producers are responsible and accountable for the lifecycle of their product. 

"SWANA has been engaging in international conversations about the role of EPR, and these new guiding principles will strengthen our position as we advocate to protect the interests and needs of our members in the waste and resource recovery industry. EPR policies are advancing rapidly in North America, making it vital that SWANA is at the table in these conversations," says Amy Lestition Burke, CEO and executive director at SWANA. "We envision SWANA taking a lead as a convener and curator of stakeholder conversations around EPR, especially in terms of how the programs affect and improve safety and the necessity of using and improving the current collection and processing systems."

The SWANA sustainable materials' management technical division advocacy committee took the lead in developing the guiding principles and the technical policy, which were reviewed and approved by the board of directors on October 19th. SWANA technical policies serve as a resource for members and as guiding documents for SWANA's positions. 

The SWANA EPR technical policy and guiding principles apply to packaging as well as other materials, including household hazardous waste, lithium-ion batteries, sharps, carpets, mattresses, tires, paint, and more. They focus on how EPR can promote safety, which supports the SWANA strategic plan's efforts to "identify and promote worker safety as an additional outcome of extended producer responsibility."  

These new policies will be discussed at SWANA's WASTECON 2024 on Wednesday, October 23rd during a General session on packaging EPR, featuring a fireside chat discussion with representatives from ecomaine, Recycling Partnership, Recology, and SC Johnson, moderated by Lestition Burke. 

"I am excited to discuss this important topic and SWANA's role with experts who are engaged with EPR," says Lestition Burke. "We will hear perspectives from SWANA members as well as from brands with the goal to expand knowledge on the topic to everyone in the industry and to lay a strong groundwork for collaboration into the future."