According to the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC), effective waste management can’t be an afterthought. It must be a key part of product design, manufacturing, packaging and retailing. There are still many products that are “designed for disposal” and local governments often have to pick up the tab. The Universal Waste Ban (e.g., covering batteries, cell phones, E-scrap, fluorescent light tubes, compact fluorescent lights. Etc.) gets an “A” for effort and good intentions. However, many consider this statewide ban to be a great idea that falls short of making a significant impact since it is a government directive without the resources to enforce it.
The CPSC is a coalition of local governments, associations and organizations related to solid waste, recycling, resource conservation, environmental protection and water quality issues. Together with businesses, individuals and NGO’s, they support and promote product stewardship and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). EPR means that whoever designs, produces, sells or uses a product takes responsibility for minimizing its environmental impact through all stages of the product’s lifecycle. CPSC suggests that producers or their agents manage manufactured product discards. The role of government is to create laws to provide the standards, accountability and transparency that would make it a level playing field for manufacturers.
Many California cities and counties have joined the CPSC to advocate for statewide legislation. More information about model EPR resolutions, ordinances, plans and policies can be found at the CPSC website or by contacting Heidi Sanborn at hksanborn@comcast.net or (916) 485-7753.
