Product Stewardship Forum June 15, 2006 Chicago, IL Sego Jackson, Principal Planner Snohomish County, WA Local Governments: Breaking Through the Ice for Producer Responsibility

Lesson One: Engage in Processes! If you are not at the table, you are probably on the menu. – quote by ? Product manufacturing is global, product pollution and problems are local. These problems can not be solved within our own cities/counties. So why is it difficult to provide local government representation in processes?

Example: NEPSI National Electronic Product Stewardship Initiative –Initially, some state and federal entities thought the problem getting agreement was covering collection costs (local government and community costs). –Persistence by local governments and other multi-stakeholder allies succeeded in drawing the line: Collection, Transport and Processing to be covered. Collection Incentive Payment concept. –Now covering collection costs is incorporated into California ARF system and Washington Producer Responsibility system.

A Good Investment of Local Dollars! Potential value to local governments across U.S.? Estimate low of $.10 per lb. (collection cost) X 2.5 lbs. per capita X U.S. population (269 M) = $67,250,000 per year! Was our engagement in the national negotiations worthwhile and cost effective?

Lesson Two: Engage Locally to Change Globally! Some think there is nothing local governments can do on a local level, programmatically. Context and experience is everything! Building local on-the-ground experience and relationships is essential.

Example: Take it Back Network Network of private sector collectors of electronics in Snohomish/King Counties. Counties assisted in establishment and promotion. All charge end-of-life fee. Includes many small neighborhood computer stores. Some criticized that this wasnt product stewardship. Entire program established with understanding that EOL fees were INTERIM to front-end financing system.

Example: Take it Back Network Take it Back Network provided experience and legitimacy to work with Big Box Stores and EPA on local, regional and national pilots. Discussions with charities and retailers showed that all collectors have similar challenges and concerns. Unity among collectors. Relationships with retailers, charities and others resulted in potent group of proponents for Washington E-waste legislation. Now, private sector collection system is poised to serve and benefit from system established by Washington E-waste law.

Example: Pharmaceuticals Analysis of e-waste collection options showed importance of retailer involvement and developing retailer relationships. Short cut to strategy: retail pharmacy return financed by pharmaceutical manufacturers. All local parties understand from beginning that that is the end game. Government is financing the start-up expenses of the pilot to demonstrate system, work out regulatory issues, and provide information to industry for program refinements and cost savings.

Lesson Three: You Cant Do This Alone! These are complex issues involving… lots of players who are not local! You cant get Wal-Mart and Apple to play locally. There has to be engagement at a higher level. You NEED the Product Stewardship Institute for that national engagement. The Product Stewardship Institute needs you for the local on-the-ground expertise!

It Takes a Village… You cant be in every negotiation. Nor does that build local/state capacity within the public sector professionals. You need a group to work with. You need to share the information, challenges and strategies. You need someone else to fly to Boston when you cant.

It Takes a Council! You need a state/regional product stewardship council similar to the Northwest Product Stewardship Council. Take turns in national PSI and other negotiations. Bring information and decisions back to broader group. Dialogue on approaches and implement strategies and pilots. Propose smart policy.

You need a Product Stewardship Council! To Build Capacity Knowledge Relationships

Your Steady and Intentional Collaborative Efforts Will Prevail When the Time is Right! Your council and others will know it when you see the break in the ice and it is time to accelerate. Keep a clear vision of the destination and chug along! Get ready to throttle up!

Example: Northwest Product Stewardship Council and WA E-Waste Legislation Built experience, relationships, capacity for years. With charities, recyclers, private collectors, retailers, manufacturers, NGOs, Eastern WA and rural governments, State Department of Ecology, and each other. Worked cooperatively together on many issues, pilots, documents and processes. Those relationships pay off when its time for the hard work of legislation.

You need a Product Stewardship Council! Time to Coordinate and Bring Producer Responsibility and Product Stewardship Systems to the U.S. and our Communities

Heres How The Product Policy Institute has launched an effort to help local governments form state/regional Product Stewardship Councils and formulate local resolutions in support of Extended Producer Responsibility. These Councils and local efforts can feed expertise to Product Stewardship Institute dialogues, negotiations, pilots and policy development.

A Local Government Grassroots Campaign! A Local Government Grass Roots Campaign is developing. –Local resolutions –Local and national pilots –State legislation –State/Regional Stewardship Councils –Engagement in national dialogue, negotiations, and policy. This is happening NOW and needs your thoughtful attention and participation.

Summary Engage in state, regional and national processes and pilots. –Coordinate with PSI. Consider formation of regional product stewardship council to expand knowledge, effectiveness and influence. –Coordinate with PPI. Engage in useful local and national pilots with clarity on how they pave the way for future product stewardship programs. Be part of the local government grassroots movement for product stewardship!

Whats Next?

Additional Information Sego Jackson, Snohomish County Solid Waste Management Division Northwest Product Stewardship Council Product Stewardship Institute Product Policy Institute Take it Back Network Pharmaceutical Project WA State Department of Ecology E-waste information Washingtons Electronics Recycling Bill 20