Extended Producer Responsibility Programs
Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, is a mandatory type of product stewardship required by law. It requires, at minimum, that the manufacturer's responsibility for its product extends to post-consumer management of that product. There are two related features of EPR policy: (1) shifting end-of-life-financial and management responsibility upstream to the manufacturer and away from the public sector, with government oversight, and (2) providing incentives to manufacturers to incorporate environmental considerations into the design of their products and packaging.
Legislation has been passed in the State of Maryland related to EPR for the following materials:
Announcements
Advisory Council Supplementary Materials PostedPosted on this page, under "Packaging Materials Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment & Producer Responsibility". Included are PDF versions of the:
- Needs Assessment Work Plan
- List of County and Municipality Survey Questions
Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Stakeholder Engagement
Paint Stewardship Program
During the 2024 legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed House Bill 1/Senate Bill 325, Maryland’s Paint Stewardship Program. On or before July 1, 2025, Producers of architectural paint sold in the State, represented by PaintCare, shall submit a plan for the establishment of the program for MDE to approve. The plan shall minimize public sector involvement in, and financial responsibility for, the management of postconsumer paint.
Packaging Materials Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment & Producer Responsibility
In the 2023 General Assembly, Senate Bill 222 (9-2501 through 9-2510 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland) was passed. Under this legislature, the Maryland Department of the Environment is mandated to perform a statewide recycling needs assessment to support recommendations for establishing and implementing an EPR program in the State for packaging materials. Recommendations will be provided by MDE, in tandem with the producer responsibility advisory council, to the Governor and General Assembly.
MDE Requirements Under SB 222
- Select a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO).
- In October 2023, MDE announced that Circular Action Alliance would act as the single packaging PRO in the State of Maryland.
- Conduct a Recycling Needs Assessment.
- In February 2024, the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Recycling Needs Assessment was issued. In August 2024, MDE announced that HDR, Inc. is the contracted vendor for the needs assessment.
- Convene an EPR Advisory Council.
- MDE has announced the members of the Advisory Council (* denotes co-chair of the council) representing each of the following required stakeholders:
- Local government agencies responsible for recycling programs
- Lee Zimmerman - Frederick County on behalf of MACo
- Recyclables and Compostable Materials Collectors
- John Neyman - Republic Services (Private Sector)
- Frankie Sherman - Charles County (Public Sector)
- Recycling Processors
- Chris Pilzer - WM (Private Sector)
- Eileen Kao - Montgomery County (Public Sector)
- Organics Recycling Processors
- *Angie Webb - Maryland Environmental Service
- Vinnie Bevivino - Bioenergy Devco
- Producers from the Consumer Goods Sector
- *Michael Okoroafor - McCormick
- Ellen Valentino - MD-DE-DC Beverage Association
- William Singleton - Mars Inc.
- Retail and Small Business
- Mario Minor - Market Fresh Gourmet
- Material-Oriented Trade Groups
- Scott DeFife - Glass Packaging Institute
- Abigail Sztein - America Forest and Paper Association
- Delphine Dahan Kocher - Constellium
- Producer Responsibility Organization Representative
- Peter Hargreave - Circular Action Alliance
- Non-profit Organizations
- Chaz Miller - Maryland Recycling Network
- Kelly Doordan - Trash Free Maryland
- Environmental Advocacy Organization
- Martha Ainsworth - Sierra Club
- Environmental Justice Advocacy Organization
- Crystal Faison - Shepherd Design and Construction
- Members of the Public who reside in the state
- Miguel Lambert - Repurpose Aggregates
- Gurcharan Singh - WAH Global
Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Stakeholder Engagement
Advisory Council Supplementary Materials
Meetings
Meetings generally will be held monthly on Thursdays from 9:00 - 11:00 am virtually. Dates and times are subject to change. All meetings are open to the public, and time is set aside at each for public comments. Recordings of meetings can be found on MDE’s YouTube channel.
Packaging Advisory Council Meeting 8 Tuesday, December 17 · 9:00 – 11:00am
Agenda:
Packaging Advisory Council Meeting 7 Thursday, December 5 · 9:00 – 11:00am
Agenda:
Packaging Advisory Council Meeting 6
Thursday, November 14 · 9:00 – 11:00am
Agenda:
Packaging Advisory Council Meeting 5
Thursday, November 7 · 9:00 – 11:00am
Agenda:
Packaging Advisory Council Meeting 4
Thursday, October 24 · 9:00 – 11:00am
Agenda:
Packaging Advisory Council Meeting 3
Thursday, September 26 · 9:00 – 11:00am
Agenda:
Montgomery County MRF Tour
Thursday, August 22 · 10:00 – 11:30am
*Note: Only open to advisory council members
Packaging Advisory Council Meeting 2
Thursday, July 25 · 9:00 – 11:00am
Agenda:
Packaging Advisory Council Meeting 1
Thursday, May 30 · 9:00 – 11:00am
Agenda:
