Global EPR
The goal of extended producer responsibility (EPR) when it began in the 1990s was to create a policy strategy that could address the challenges of a growing waste stream. It aimed to shift the responsibility for the end-of-life management of products and materials from municipalities to producers. This has proved very effective and as such EPR programs are in a constant state of development throughout the world.
Programs globally place different obligations on producers and one of the challenges faced by companies today is ensuring their compliance in all of the countries they operate in.
ecoVeritas Compliance Services
We offer compliance services for EPR programs across the world which includes:
- Highly accurate, tailored calculations for packaging waste, textiles, paint, WEEE and batteries
- Annual, quarterly, and monthly data submissions (as required) to compliance schemes
- Registration with the respective overseeing authorities
As new EPR programs with varied reporting requirements are implemented around the world, our bespoke data management tool, Packman, is well suited to respond to the challenges this presents for our clients. If you would like further information on our global EPR services, please complete this form or call our offices on +44 (0) 1865 721375.
Canada
- If your company has residency in a province that has a packaging stewardship programme in place, supplies packaging into that province and is either the brand owner, first importer or franchisor of the packaging it may be legally obligated under producer responsibility laws.
- If your company manufactures, sells or imports EEE or batteries into a province in Canada it may be legally obligated under producer responsibility laws.
- Stewardship programs in Canada are run on a provincial level and obligated companies must report to the relevant authority in that province.
Europe
Click here to view our European EPR map
USA
• Currently, in the US, extended producer responsibility laws are administered on a state level with 5 states introducing legislation covering packaging since 2011. Three of these have enacted the legislation which carries an obligation.
• Currently, at least 25 states have passed legislation placing the responsibility on electronics and electricals manufacturers to pay for the recycling of their products.
• Nine states have enacted battery regulations that put an obligation on the producers of batteries.
Brazil
- In November 2015, an agreement for Packaging Take-Back was signed requiring producers to be responsible for the collection of their end of life packaging.
- ecoVeritas are monitoring the development of this law to ensure our clients will be in the best position to respond.
Africa
- ecoVeritas are monitoring proposed extended producer responsibility laws in the initial stages of their evolution throughout Africa ensuring that when they are brought into place our clients will be in the best place to respond.
China
- ecoVeritas are monitoring proposed extended producer responsibility laws in the initial stages of their evolution throughout China ensuring that when they are brought into place our clients will be in the best position to respond.
India
• India has regulations in place concerning solid waste, plastic waste, WEEE, and batteries.
• Only lead-acid batteries are currently covered by battery regulations.
• WEEE regulations require producers to establish collective or individual systems.
• Packaging regulations (solid waste and plastic waste) vary by province. Producers are responsible for setting up their own waste management systems.
Russia
- In 2015, producer responsibility laws rendering manufacturers and importers responsible for the collection and recycling of their products were brought into place.
- Obligated producers can comply by either organising their own recycling systems, entering into a contract with a regional recycling operator or by paying an environmental fee dependent on the quantities of waste being placed onto the market.
- ecoVeritas are monitoring the situation in Russia closely as it evolves over time ensuring that our clients will be in the best position to respond.
Australia
- If your company imported or manufactured more than a threshold amount of computers or printers in Australia, it has a legal responsibility to organise the collection and recycling of these products.
- There are a number of other voluntary schemes that companies are able to join to ensure that their products are properly managed for their full life cycle.
New Zealand
- In New Zealand there are no products for which there are mandatory product stewardship schemes in place. We are monitoring the situation so that we and our clients will be in the best position to respond if this changes in the future.
- There are a number of accredited product stewardship schemes that companies are able to join such as The Glass Packaging Forum which covers roughly 80% of companies that manufacture or use glass packaging in New Zealand.
Peru
- In 2015, Peru approved amendments to the country's regulation for the management and handling of waste electrical and electronic equipment. It imposes an annual declaration obligation on producers of EEE and WEEE operators and sets out minimum WEEE management targets to be achieved for the next five years.
Chile
• Chile does not currently have and packaging, WEEE, or battery regulations in place. As of 2016, they have a Framework Law for Waste Management in place. This has gone out for consultation in early 2017 but it is still not known when the law will come into place.
• ecoVeritas are monitoring the situation in Chile and ensuring that when legal obligations are brought into place our clients will be in the best position to respond.
Colombia
- A draft decree has been published that would if enacted, expand the range of its existing electronics take-back regulations. At the moment they only apply to computers, printers and batteries.
Israel
• In Israel, EPR regulations are similar to those common across the EU. Companies that have imported or manufactured more than a threshold amount of packaging in Israel must pay a per tonne fee and report on tonnages bi-annually or annually.
• WEEE & Batteries are covered under the same law. A threshold exists for the manufacturing or importing of EEE but not for batteries. Obligated companies pay a per product fee and report sales bi-annually or annually.
• There is currently one compliance scheme for packaging and two for WEEE & batteries.
South Africa
• There are currently no regulations governing packaging, WEEE & batteries in South Africa.However, a notice was posted in 2016 by the South African Government, giving the industries involved 12 months to submit plans.
• ecoVeritas are monitoring the situation in South Africa and ensuring that when legal obligations are brought into place our clients will be in the best position to respond.
Japan
• Japan has had EPR style legislation in place since the late 90’s.
• There are obligations in place on manufacturers, wholesalers and importers of packaging, and on manufacturers of batteries.
• There is a take back scheme in place for WEEE products.
