Does your business sell packaged products?  

Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) reporting requirements are in effect in several states, with producer reporting deadlines occurring this spring. 

If your company sells packaged products in the U.S., you may be obligated under packaging EPR laws. 

Who is Circular Action Alliance?

When states adopt EPR laws, they rely on Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) to design and operate programs that help producers meet statutory requirements.

As the state-approved PRO in California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington, Circular Action Alliance (CAA) administers EPR programs and provides guidance and resources aligned with enacted laws and regulations, including registration, reporting and payment requirements.

CAA is a nonprofit, producer-led organization focused on administering EPR programs and supporting producers in meeting their compliance obligations under state EPR laws, all while delivering harmonized best-in-class compliance services and to working with governments, businesses and communities to reduce waste and recycle more.   

What is packaging EPR?  

EPR is a policy approach that requires companies (“Producers”) to fund and manage programs that ensure the paper and packaging they supply to consumers are collected and recycled responsibly. EPR shifts the responsibility for the funding of collection, recycling and end-of-life management for paper and packaging from local governments and taxpayers to the producer.  

These laws are being implemented on a state-by-state basis, with specific requirements related to:  

• Producer registration  

• Data reporting  

• Fee calculation and payment  

• Ongoing compliance  

Is your business obligated?  

EPR laws define “producer” differently by state, and the definition is set in statute and regulation. In general, laws reference concepts such as brand ownership of a covered material into a state, but specific criteria and applicability vary. 

EPR obligations for paper and packaging may apply to brand owners, retailers, manufacturers, distributors, publishers, importers and other companies that place packaged products on the market.  

Since obligations vary by state and material type, producers should rely on state laws, regulations and program guidance to confirm whether they are obligated in each state. 

How CAA helps you prepare  

CAA provides producers with centralized resources and program guidance to support compliance through a comprehensive Producer Portal, including:  

• Clear information on state-by-state applicability

• Standardized processes and templates for registration, reporting and payment

• Educational webinars and guidance  

• Open Q&A sessions to address common questions  

These resources are designed to support internal teams responsible for compliance, reporting, legal review, finance, sustainability and operations across EPR reporting cycles.   

Next steps

CAA administers EPR programs and provides resources to support registration, reporting and the fee payment under applicable state laws. 

• To help your team get started, sign up to receive CAA’s monthly newsletter.

• Check out our Producer Resource Center. CAA has assembled resources to help producers understand their responsibilities and support preparation for each reporting cycle.  

• Watch the producer onboarding (100-level) webinars.

• Log into our Producer Portal.