Product Stewardship: Recommended SWMCB Roles Report to the SWMCB August 26, 2009

Purpose Review product stewardship as a policy tool Outline recommended roles for the SWMCB

Product Stewardship - Defined A strategy through which manufacturers and others along the product chain share in the financial and physical responsibility for collecting and managing products in an environmentally sound manner at the end of their useful lives.

Product Stewardship A product-centered approach to environmental protection. Also known as extended product responsibility (EPR), product stewardship calls on those in the product life cyclemanufacturers, retailers, users, and disposersto share responsibility for reducing the environmental impacts of products.

Why Product Stewardship? Two key drivers: –Local government costs for waste management –Environmental and Public Health Protection Reduced toxicity Reduced waste volumes Reduced greenhouse gas emissions

Product Stewardship Until Now Focus on specific products, to reduce government costs and remove them from the waste stream –Electronics, paint, CFLs, carpet, beverage containers, telephone directories, mercury auto switches, thermostats Products mostly with hazardous character Significant investment of time Some success, some failure

Product Stewardship in the Future It could be: –The foundation for waste management policy; –A means to increase efficiency (that is, less waste), in business and government; –A way for government to reduce its waste management costs

Begin with a Framework MPCAs 2008 Report Legislation Introduced Concept: create a consistent approach to identify potential products for stewardship programs, including a common set of expectations. Framework recognizes that not all products are suited to a stewardship approach or that stewardship programs will operate the same for each product.

Recommended Roles for SWMCB Policy Development to advance a framework Education and Communication Advocacy Research Coordination and Regulation Prioritize products