Shifting the cleanup cost of packaging waste to companies could encourage greener packaging

MAINE MORNING STAR • August 28, 2026

Standing in your local store, it can be mind-boggling to try to weigh the pros and cons of all the packaging options. Disposing of the empty packaging poses a similar challenge. However, I’ve seen the potential in a policy approach gaining traction for packaging: extended producer responsibility, or EPR. This could radically change what packaging companies choose to use and what happens to that packaging after you throw it out. Extended producer responsibility policies are based on the “polluter pays” principle. By requiring brand owners to fund – and in some cases operate – recycling systems, EPR shifts the burden of waste management off local taxpayers. As producers incorporate these costs, the assumption is that they will redesign their packaging in ways that reduce their overall environmental impact.