Product Stewardship and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Product stewardship, sometimes known as extended producer responsibility (EPR), is an environmental policy approach that holds businesses responsible for end-of-life management of their products or packaging. Product stewardship supports recycling and materials management goals that contribute to a circular economy and can also encourage product design changes that minimize environmental impacts.
Product Stewardship Programs that CalRecycle Oversees
Currently, CalRecycle is tasked with the oversight of statewide stewardship programs for the following products:
Textiles: The Responsible Textile Recovery Act ensures discarded textiles and apparel are reused, repaired, or recycled.
Contact: Textiles@CalRecycle.ca.gov
Beverage Containers: The Dealer Cooperatives Program aims to increase opportunities for consumers to redeem bottles and cans for deposit refunds.
Contact: DealerCoops@CalRecycle.ca.gov
Batteries: The Responsible Battery Recycling Program requires the establishment of a stewardship program for the collection and recycling of covered batteries.
Contact: Batteries@CalRecycle.ca.gov
Packaging: The Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Program shifts the plastic pollution burden from consumers to the plastics industry.
Contact: Packaging@CalRecycle.ca.gov
Pharmaceuticals and Sharps: The Pharmaceutical and Sharps Waste Stewardship Program requires safe and convenient disposal options for pharmaceutical drug and home-generated sharps waste.
Contact: PharmaSharps@CalRecycle.ca.gov
Mattresses: The Mattress Stewardship Program aims to reduce illegal dumping, increase recycling, and substantially reduce local government costs for the end-of-use management of used mattresses.
Contact: Mattresses@CalRecycle.ca.gov
Carpet: The Carpet Stewardship Program ensures postconsumer carpet is reused, recycled, or properly disposed.
Contact: Carpet@CalRecycle.ca.gov
Paint: The Paint Stewardship Program ensures that leftover paint is reused, recycled, or properly disposed.
Contact: Paint@CalRecycle.ca.gov
For program-specific questions, contact:
For legislative questions, contact: