Provinces and States Lead the Charge Against Plastic Waste with EPR Programs

In the face of growing plastic pollution, a grassroots movement has emerged across North America, with U.S. states and Canadian provinces leading the charge. As of 2025, seven states have adopted Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, which shift the burden of waste management from consumers to the companies that produce the packaging.

These EPR programs require businesses to pay for the collection, recycling, and disposal of the materials they sell. This creates a financial incentive for companies to use more sustainable packaging. British Columbia's EPR program, launched in 2014, has been particularly successful, recycling over 80% of packaging materials that entered the province last year. This has allowed the region to avoid the need for a new landfill, which was previously anticipated.

While international efforts to address plastic pollution have stalled, the rapid adoption of state-level EPR programs is building momentum for federal legislation. Companies are now facing a patchwork of different rules and definitions, which is driving up their compliance costs. Industry leaders, such as SC Johnson, are advocating for a unified national EPR policy to streamline their operations. With growing consumer demand for action on plastic waste, the push for federal regulation is expected to intensify in the coming years.