With the March 31, 2025, deadline fast approaching, businesses operating in Oregon must ensure compliance with the state's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws. These regulations, enforced under the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act, require producers of certain materials to report their supply and take accountability for waste management. Failure to comply could result in penalties and impact business operations.

Circular Action Alliance (CAA), a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) dedicated to implementing effective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws for paper and packaging in the United States, proudly announces the approval of the country’s first EPR Program Plan for packaging, printing and writing paper and food serviceware by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). This marks a significant milestone in implementing Oregon’s landmark EPR law, the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (RMA), which aims to create a more sustainable, equitable, and efficient recycling system statewide.

A newly released assessment, along with a recommendation report from a stakeholder group, could both help shape EPR for packaging legislation this year.

Kim Holmes, Oregon Executive Director at Circular Action Alliance discusses the implementation of Oregon's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law, and the importance of compliance for producers by March 31, 2025. The post highlights the benefits of registration, the consequences of non-compliance, and provides steps and resources for producers to meet their obligations.

Circular Action Alliance (CAA), a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) dedicated to implementing effective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws for paper and packaging in the United States, proudly announces the approval of the country’s first EPR Program Plan for packaging, printing and writing paper and food serviceware by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). This marks a significant milestone in implementing Oregon’s landmark EPR law, the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (RMA), which aims to create a more sustainable, equitable, and efficient recycling system statewide.

• Registration and reporting deadline details for producers.

• New CAA staff members.

• State implementation updates.

• Upcoming events.

• And More!

• Registration and reporting deadline details for producers.

• New Founding Members.

• State implementation updates.

• Upcoming conferences.

• And More!

“Producer responsibility organization (PRO) Circular Action Alliance (CAA) has announced that Conagra Brands and Georgia-Pacific (GP) have joined the organization as founding members.”

Conagra Brands and Georgia-Pacific have joined CAA as Founding Members. With their deep expertise in packaging design and recycling in the U.S. and globally, these companies will make an immediate contribution to the work of CAA's Board of Directors and grow the diversity of the packaging portfolio represented by these companies. 

“Geoff Inch, senior vice president of producer services for PRO Circular Action Alliance, told Resource Recycling that the numbers have grown disproportionately in Oregon as the deadline approaches, which matches the surge in signups that came before Colorado’s Oct. 1 registration deadline in 2024. 

“‘We definitely see a surge in registrations related to specific regulatory deadlines,’ Inch said. ‘That really helps.’” 

“Olivia Barker, communications adviser at the Circular Action Alliance (CAA), responded by pointing out that CAA is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, not an advocacy organization. CAA has been picked to oversee EPR programs in several states as their PRO, including two of the five that have passed EPR regulations so far. 

“‘We are a compliance organization,” Barker said. “Our job—and our mission—is to implement these laws effectively.’”

“Jeff Fielkow has experience ‘on every side of the recycling bin.’ He’s tapping into those different perspectives as the CEO of Circular Action Alliance.

“Packaging Dive caught up with Fielkow at the end of 2024 to learn more about CAA’s approach in 2025 and the years to come.”

• Registration and reporting deadline details for producers.

• CAA welcomes new team members and offers more career opportunities.

• Upcoming events.

• CalRecycle’s comment period.

• The third and final program plan is submitted in Oregon.

• CAA’s activities in Minnesota.

• And More!

To help shed some light on these new packaging EPR laws, PPAI Media reached out to Circular Action Alliance, currently the only active producer responsibility organization (PRO) in the U.S. dedicated to implementing EPR laws for paper and packaging. This organization analyzes the relevant EPR laws and assists producers with the required reporting, collection and recycling or disposal of covered packaging materials.

“CAA praised Wagoner’s statewide leadership experience in an announcement Wednesday, saying she will oversee development and implementation of a program plan in California. This will involve collaborating with government stakeholders, producers and other industry partners ‘to achieve SB 54’s ambitious recycling and waste reduction goals.’”