News

The majority of consumers who use retail take back recycling programs stay and shop, according to a survey by the rechargeable battery stewardship organization, Call2Recycle. Respondents also said they have positive feelings about stores that offer such programs.

The Washington State Department of Ecology seeks public review of and comment on the Product Care / NEMA Draft Final Standard Plan (PDF) for the Washington Mercury-Containing Lights Product Stewardship Program – comments due by the morning of Monday, Nov. 19.

The Go Green Radio show with Jill Buck featured a Nov. 2, 2012, segment with Heidi Sanborn of the California Product Stewardship Council on extended producer responsibility (EPR), titled "You Make It, You Take It (Back) – Requiring Product Producers to Bear the Cost of Waste Management."

The product stewardship program for mercury-containing lights in Washington State begins Jan. 1, 2013. ProductCare, the stewardship organization, is seeking collection site partners. Visit www.productcare.org/WALights

Multi-Material British Columbia (MMBC) invited stakeholders to review and comment on the draft Packaging and Printed Paper (PPP) Stewardship Plan. The workshop and web-simulcast were held on Oct. 29, 10am-4pm Pacific in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Council has drafted resolutions for Washington local governments to express support for Paint Stewardship and Rechargeable Battery Stewardship legislation.

The Washington House Environment Committee held a Sept. 19, 2012, work session to hear from experts on product stewardship and the current solid waste system. The work session, Integrating Producer Responsibility Programs into Existing Solid Waste Handling Systems, included six speakers.

The industry-run Oregon PaintCare paint stewardship program released its second annual report on Sept. 4, 2012. Highlights include a 30% increase in used paint collected, and the collection of over 1 million gallons throughout Oregon since the program began in July 2010.

From the Globe and Mail, British Columbia producers have until November 2012 to submit draft plans for implementing full producer responsibility by May 2014.

Despite the support of Waste Management, Recology, Republic Services, Inc., the California Retailers Association and others, SB 1118, the California used mattress recycling and recovery act, failed to pass. SB 1118 would have required that mattress manufacturers "develop, finance, and implement a convenient and cost-effective program to collect and recycle waste mattresses" by 2013.