Statewide Needs Assessments Necessary Before EPR Mandates BY AMERICAN FOREST & PAPER ASSOCIATION Extended producer responsibility, or EPR, is a waste man- agement strategy typically used for hard-to-recycle mate- rials. EPR is gaining attention in the US, mostly at the state level. State EPR legislation varies, but bills are focused on improving the recycling rates of materials commonly found in curbside recycling bins, particularly packaging. Before an EPR program is considered, the states need to do a needs assessment. These studies help states bet- ter understand the current state of their waste and recy- cling system. Let’s explore why statewide needs assess- ments are important. What Is A Statewide Needs Assessment? Needs assessments have the potential to look at all different aspects of how a state manages recycling and waste. That can include information on: • Existing recycling, compost and disposal infrastructure • Access to curbside recycling • The state of local and rural recycling • State compost standards • Current recycling rates for paper, plastic, metals, glass and other materials • What is and is not considered recyclable • How much recyclable material goes to landfills
This data helps states understand what’s working well within their recycling system. They also identify issues the state needs to work on in the future. States can also do waste characterization studies. These help states discov- er how much paper, food, metal and more is ending up in their waste streams by reviewing the material collect- ed. This is helpful but doesn’t look at the full picture of a state’s entire infrastructure like a needs assessment does. Why are Recycling and Waste Systems So Complex? Waste and recycling management in a state is complex because of things like: • Geographic region: An urban area might have access to curbside recycling, trash and organics disposal while a rural area might have drop-off access only. Transpor- tation distances between homes in rural areas can make curbside more challenging. • Difference in waste management companies: The com- panies who haul away trash and recyclables are differ- ent depending on location. What they collect can differ as well. • Materials processing facilities: The place where your recycling is sorted. The technology can differ between these facilities as can what they accept. • Housing type: Collection from single-family neighbor- hoods differs from condos and apartments, also known as multi-family housing. Let’s look at how these things can quickly make re- CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
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