The Recycling Partnership (TRP)

The Recycling Partnership is a team of experts, practitioners, and thought leaders who are deeply invested in protecting our natural resources, creating more sustainable communities, and delivering on our mission of building a better recycling system. We work alongside policymakers to enact and implement well-designed EPR laws that support the recycling system and increase recycling rates.

Recommendations for Policymakers Developing Circular Policy & EPR for Packaging Policies:

1. Implementation of existing EPR programs in the U.S. demonstrate the importance of timing and sequencing requirements. Deadlines and requirements should be clearly stated in the statute to ensure that the program's startup is smooth, with sufficient time between phases to allow stakeholders to complete each implementation step. For instance, producers should be required to report data and pay fees before the program starts to ensure the program is adequately funded.

2. Materials collected through the program should be sent to certified Responsible End Markets. Existing EPR programs in the U.S. are aligning on an approach to certify that recyclable materials are sent to facilities with strong environmental and labor standards. The Partnership encourages state legislators to provide sufficient flexibility for responsible end market requirements to be built out methodically and with ample input and buy-in from all links in the recycling chain.

3. Policymakers should include the full range of packaging and printed paper in the definition of “covered materials”. In EPR laws, the covered materials are the different types of materials that must be included in the program. Because funding from the PRO is meant to cover commingled recycling, and EPR is also intended to target non-recyclable packaging and printed paper, The Partnership supports including the full range of printed paper and packaging materials intended for household consumers, with few exemptions. Full inclusion of materials is important even for materials that are recyclable, as collecting and recycling packaging and paper materials still costs municipalities money. In addition, The Partnership’s research shows that lack of engagement by households in recycling programs is the single largest driver of disposal of recyclable materials, leading to disposal of 37% of all recyclable materials. Robust education and outreach programs funded by producers are critical to ensuring households participate and close the engagement gap.

For more information, please consider these external resources available in the Public Facing Statements & Resources Section:

1. TRP's Memo on the Interplay and Integration of Deposit Return Systems and EPR



2. TRP's Guidance For Producer Funded Recycling Collection Legislation