A circular economy requires smart policies that align economic incentives with environmental performance.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Requires producers to help finance and manage collection, recycling, and responsible end-of-life management of products and packaging.
Desposit Refund Systems
Provides financial incentives for consumers to return valuable materials for reuse and recycling.
Right to Repair
Ensures consumers and independent repair businesses have access to the tools, parts, and information needed to extend product life.
Carbon Pricing
Uses market signals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while encouraging innovation and efficiency.
EPR Status Update
Packaging EPR
Seven U.S. states have now adopted packaging EPR laws and are actively moving toward implementation:
• California
• Colorado
• Maine
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• Oregon
• Washington
These programs will collectively influence tens of billions of dollars in packaging design, recycling infrastructure, material recovery, waste reduction, and circular economy investments over the coming decade.
Textile EPR
California has adopted the nation’s first statewide textile EPR law, establishing producer responsibility for clothing and textiles. Additional states are actively evaluating similar approaches.
Help Shape Better EPR
Effective EPR should deliver both environmental and economic benefits.
Circle America provides a forum where citizens, businesses, local governments, NGOs, and policymakers can discuss practical improvements to EPR implementation, recycling systems, source reduction strategies, and circular economy policy.
Interested in helping make EPR and other circular policies more effective?
Join Circle America and participate in our monthly Zoom discussions, working groups, policy briefings, and leadership forums.