New York’s EPR Policies Must Consider Cost and Facts

EPR programs are intended to improve recycling rates for products that end up in recycling bins. Typical legislation for EPR includes definitions for different products, providing guidance for how the goals of the bill are intended to be implemented.

The Affordable Waste Reduction Act currently includes a definition of "paper products," which are separate from "packaging." Their "paper products" definition is overly broad. It includes products that typically do not end up in recycling bins like paper sold in bulk through business-to-business transactions or unprinted copy paper.

However, the proposed legislation would impose fees on these products anyway, and in some cases multiple times. These double-dip fees will unnecessarily increase costs throughout the supply chain and ultimately, New Yorkers will bear the costs.