Circular Action Alliance Talks EPR Implementation

Seven U.S. states have enacted packaging-focused EPR laws, each with its own timeline and compliance goals.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 9:57am

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The non-profit Circular Action Alliance is the only Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) approved to implement extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws in California, Oregon, Minnesota, Maryland and Colorado. Geoff Inch, senior vice president of producer services at the CAA, discusses how the organization is working to build an effective and cost-efficient recycling system for the end-of-life management of packaging materials under these state EPR laws.

Why it matters

EPR laws shift the financial and operational responsibility for packaging end-of-life management from local governments to producers. This is intended to incentivize more sustainable packaging design and increase recycling rates, but it requires food brands and packaging suppliers to quickly understand and comply with the new requirements in each state.

The details

Under EPR laws, producers must register, report on packaging weight and components, and pay fees to the PRO, which uses the funds to improve recycling infrastructure and operations. Fees are higher for non-recyclable, non-compostable or non-reusable packaging, but can be reduced for packaging with recycled content or made from highly recyclable materials. The CAA is working to harmonize reporting requirements across states as much as possible.

  • By 2030, nearly a fifth of the U.S. population is expected to be subject to EPR laws.
  • California's EPR system begins in 2023, requiring reporting on both packaging weight and plastic component count.

The players

Circular Action Alliance

A non-profit organization that is the only Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) approved to implement EPR laws in California, Oregon, Minnesota, Maryland and Colorado.

Geoff Inch

The senior vice president of producer services at the Circular Action Alliance, where he oversees the national producer strategy, including reporting and services to prepare producers for EPR compliance.

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What they’re saying

“EPR is really a policy approach. It shifts the financial and, often the operational, responsibility for the end-of-life management of packaging.”

— Geoff Inch, Senior Vice President of Producer Services, Circular Action Alliance

“We're working really hard to make sure that those make sense and are harmonized as best as possible, as well, across multiple states. I think that's something that producers are fundamentally interested in.”

— Geoff Inch, Senior Vice President of Producer Services, Circular Action Alliance

What’s next

The Circular Action Alliance publishes producer guidance and holds regular webinars to help businesses understand and comply with EPR requirements in the states where it operates.

The takeaway

As more U.S. states enact EPR laws for packaging, food brands and packaging suppliers must quickly adapt to the new requirements in each state to avoid penalties. The Circular Action Alliance is working to streamline compliance by harmonizing reporting across states and providing guidance to producers.