Q&A: What happens when producers are responsible for recycling their products and packaging?

Who should pay when a product becomes waste—the company that made it or the public? That question sits at the center of extended producer responsibility (EPR), a policy strategy that shifts recycling costs onto manufacturers to reduce waste and promote more eco-friendly design. Used in more than 100 countries for packaging, electronics, mattresses and batteries, EPR is gaining traction in the U.S. Seven states have passed legislation requiring producers to cover the costs of recycling their packaging.