“Freeman will hit the ground running when he joins CAA as executive director on June 18. Colorado is in the process of implementing its extended producer responsibility program for packaging and paper products, and CAA is its producer responsibility organization tasked with building the program plan.”

“Schwarze called on producers to engage with the producer responsibility organization — which is already serving in California, Colorado and Oregon, and in an advisory role in Maryland — as soon as possible because it’s on producers to understand whether they count as an obligated producer in different states with these EPR laws.”

• Visit CAA at Circularity24

• CAA Producer Registration Deadline is July 1, 2024

• The Oregon Recycling System Optimization Project (ORSOP) began earlier this month. Through this process, additional data will be gathered to better understand the landscape of current recycling systems and to gauge what system expansion is needed.

• CAA submitted comments to CalRecycle regarding the formal SB 54 rulemaking on May 8. Following the formal comment period, CalRecycle has until January 1, 2025, to promulgate the rules.

• And More!

“EPR is a complex and constantly moving target. As a brand, what should you be doing right now to prepare for upcoming regulations? At NPE: The Plastics Show, John Hite, [Regulatory & Stakeholder Engagement Advisor] at Circular Action Alliance (CAA), provided a primer on EPR for Packaging, CAA, and what you need to do to meet upcoming deadlines.”

“The program requires applicable product producers to contribute a small amount of funds for recycling of the products and packaging the companies sell in the state. The funds will help manage the end of life of materials through collection, processing and recycling, or composting.

”Colorado designated Circular Action Alliance in May 2023 as the Producer Responsibility Organization to coordinate, fund and manage the statewide recycling system.”

• CAA Submits Initial Oregon Program Plan

• CAA Moves Forward with Colorado EPR Implementation Following Joint Budget Committee Approval

• CAA Producer Registration Deadline is July 1, 2024

• And More!

“CAA, a brands-led organization that also has been selected as a producer responsibility organization for California and Oregon, will engage with stakeholders over the next nine months to prepare a program plan aligned with these goals.”

“As of press time, the CDPHE’s recommended program has been submitted to the state’s joint budget committee for approval. If approved, CAA, with the aid of an EPR advisory committee comprised of 13 stakeholders, including those in the hauling, packaging, recycling and legislative sectors, will develop how to implement the program, with a deadline of Feb. 1, 2025. The finalized program, complete with a statewide minimum recyclables list, is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026.”

“In its initial program plan, CAA outlines an approach to implementing the RMA that builds on the existing system by upgrading facilities and improving public participation, understanding and equity throughout the state’s recycling system. With this approach, CAA is seeking to increase the diversion of recyclables from disposal and reduce the negative environmental, social and health impacts from the end-of-life management of products and packaging.”

“Circular Action Alliance, a nonprofit producer responsibility organization founded by Coca-Cola, Amazon, Unilever and other major brands and retailers, has submitted its initial program plan to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for implementation of the state’s extended producer responsibility for packaging law.”