Public Comment on PaintCare Washington’s Proposed Amendment to the Program Plan 

In late 2024, PaintCare, the stewardship organization tasked with managing Washington’s paint stewardship program, submitted a proposed amendment to Washington’s PaintCare program requesting an increase to the fees consumers pay, which they deem necessary to sustain the program.  

The Recycling Reform Act (SB 5284) would modernize Washington state’s recycling system by creating an EPR program that would to require producers to reduce unnecessary packaging, fund statewide collection services, and ensure materials put in curbside bins are recycled. The Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5284 passed the House late Monday (April 14th) night on a 51-45 vote. The bill has been amended, so it now goes back to the Senate for a concurrence vote before it can be signed into law by the governor. 

Bethany Cartledge, Executive Director of St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County, at their mattress recycling facility

 

Bye Bye Mattress creates jobs in Oregon 

Oregon’s Mattress Stewardship Program that started implementation earlier this year is expanding throughout the state. Besides keeping mattresses out of landfills, and discouraging illegal dumping, it has already created local jobs, e.g., St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County’ operation on Prairie Road has grown from four to 11 employees. Watch this video about St. Vincent de Paul's mattress recycling operation in Eugene. With the program, Oregonians can recycle their mattresses at no costs. About 75% of each mattress is recyclable. For more information, see Bye Bye Mattress.  

Maryland EPR for Packaging Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk 

Earlier this month, Maryland’s legislature passed SB 901, a packaging EPR bill, which now awaits Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s signature. If enacted, Maryland would become the sixth state to pass a packaging EPR law, joining Maine (2021), Oregon (2021), Colorado (2022), California (2022), and Minnesota (2024). SB 901 builds upon the findings of the Maryland statewide needs assessment and advisory council recommendations, formed following the passage of SB 222, the Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment and Producer Responsibility for Packaging Materials.  

 

New York Product Stewardship Council EPR Resources 

The New York Product Stewardship Council (NYPSC) has developed various resources to educate and promote EPR for packaging in New York. These resources include a fact sheet highlighting the issues of packaging recycling in New York and how packaging EPR could help solve these issues. The NYPSC also developed two educational videos, the first specifically regarding packaging EPR in New York and the second providing a high-level overview of EPR.  

Beyond Plastics recently published a study on the Projected Economic Benefits of the New York Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. 

 

Alberta Launches EPR for Packaging Program 

Alberta officially launched its packaging EPR program on April 1, 2025. Circular Materials, the designated PRO, will oversee the program’s implementation, which initially covers over 200 Alberta communities, 45 of which will have their recycling services directly managed by Circular Materials, while the rest will continue to manage their recycling collection as service providers to Circular Materials. Eight other Canadian provinces are either implementing or have already established packaging EPR programs, including British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and The Yukon.  

• Battery EPR HB 2062, would require producers of covered batteries or battery-containing products to implement a battery producer responsibility program to fund and manage the collection and processing of batteries and battery-containing products at their end-of-life. 
  • HB 2062 had a work session in the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and the Environment on April 8th. The bill was amended and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.  
• Amendments to Oregon’s Deposit Return System for Beverage Containers:
  • HB 3940 would place a surcharge on the sales of beverage containers for purposes of wildfire prevention and response. Beverage container surcharge has been removed. 
  • SB 992 would authorize the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission to approve one or more alternative access redemption centers has moved to its second chamber.