Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging
Seven states now charge you for the packaging you put on the market.
Extended Producer Responsibility laws move the cost of collecting and recycling packaging onto the brands that sell it. Seven states have passed one and more are in progress. What your packaging is made of, and how much of it you ship, now carries a dollar amount.
Extended Producer Responsibility, Explained
EPR shifts the cost of managing packaging waste from cities and towns to the companies that put that packaging on the market. Producers register with an approved organization, report what packaging they use, and pay fees based on material type and volume.
Financial Shift
Producers now fund the collection and recycling costs cities used to carry.
Design Incentives
Fees are adjusted to reward packaging that's more recyclable, so lighter and simpler packaging costs you less.
Program Funding
Fees pay for waste management and build new recycling infrastructure, including collection points for materials curbside programs don't take today.
Seven States, Seven Timelines
Most of these programs run through the same producer responsibility organization, so a brand selling in several of these states is looking at overlapping obligations, not separate ones.
Colorado EPR Compliance Status
Producer fees live since January 2026. Reporting is annual, and your 2026 supply data sets your 2027 fees.
Oregon EPR Compliance Status
Fees live since July 2025. Registration and annual reporting are both in effect.
California EPR Compliance Status
SB 54 regulations approved. Early fee invoices started August 2026, fee schedules are expected to be finalized in October, and the first full invoice lands January 2027.
Maine EPR Compliance Status
First state to enact a packaging EPR law. Still selecting a stewardship organization, so there is no registration route yet.
Minnesota EPR Compliance Status
Enacted, with simplified reporting in place. The stewardship plan is due in 2028 and fees follow after that.
Maryland EPR Compliance Status
Enacted, with simplified reporting in place and regulations still being finalized. Fees are not expected until 2028.
Washington EPR Compliance Status
Enacted, and producers had to join the state organization by July 2026. Regulations are expected in 2027, with implementation later.
This Changes Packaging Decisions, Not Just Paperwork
EPR fees are tied directly to what your packaging is made of. Material, format, and recyclability aren't just design questions anymore. They're compliance questions with a dollar amount attached, and that amount is different in every state where you sell.
Weight, material, and component count are all things we can work through with you while the packaging is still on the table.
Four Things Worth Doing Now
Know Your Exposure
Know which states you sell into, and which EPR laws already apply to you.
Know What Gets Charged
Fees vary widely by material type, so start with how your current materials are classified. California adds a second charge for every plastic component, which means a tear-off strip counts as two.
Design for Reduction
Design for recyclability and source reduction from the start. Post-consumer recycled content counts toward source reduction too.
Talk to Us Early
Bring your packaging partner in early. A redesign that cuts weight or components can bring your fee exposure down.
What We Can Actually Help With
We're not a compliance firm and we don't give legal advice. What we can share is what we're seeing across states, and how material, weight, and component choices affect what you'll owe.
Our digital print model means materials and formats can change without the huge minimums that make a mid-run switch painful. If EPR fees are pushing you toward a redesign, that's a conversation worth having before the next run.
This page is for general information and reflects our experience, not legal or compliance advice. EPR requirements vary by state and change frequently. Confirm your specific obligations with your producer responsibility organization or your own counsel.
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