The Big Picture

The United States generates about 300 million tons of material solid waste (MSW) annually through by several sources, including residential, commercial and institutional sites, as well as industrial facilities. MSW is made up of packaging, food, yard trimmings, furniture, electronics, tires, clothes, appliances and much more. Only 30-35% of MSW is recycled or composted.

Why It Matters

Non-biodegradable and non-recyclable waste ends up in our oceans and landfills. Private sector organizations, civil society and governments around the world are identifying ways to transition our current economy from a linear economic model (take, make, use, toss) toward a circular design that aims to eliminate waste and pollution, keeping resources in constant use and out of landfills.

Industry’s Role

A systems approach, including upstream solutions for better packaging materials and design, as well as downstream solutions of waste recovery and recycling infrastructure, are required to address the mounting global waste.

• Numerous companies, including PCPC members, are using circular design principles to reduce the amount of materials used in the manufacture of their products—replacing them with renewable or recycled content and designing for reuse and recovery.
• Companies are also making commitments to zero waste in operations by using a waste-minimization hierarchy: reduce, reuse and recycle.

Resources

This resource collection provides clear, up-to-date summaries of state Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs and related packaging requirements impacting the personal care industry. Each fact sheet offers a concise overview of program scope, key compliance obligations, timelines, and regulatory status, along with practical insights on reporting, fees, and producer responsibilities. Covering major and emerging state programs—including California, Washington, Maine, and Maryland—these materials are designed to help companies understand evolving EPR requirements and prepare for implementation across jurisdictions.

Please note these EPR Fact Sheets are exclusively available to PCPC members. To learn more about membership, click here.