News

The Repair Association plans to put forward a "Right to Repair" bill in January 2018: Concerning the fair servicing and repair of digital electronic products.

LightRecycle collected 664,739 mercury-containing lights in the first six months of 2017, weighing 310,197 lbs. With more than 220 collection sites in Washington, including businesses and municipal facilities, LightRecycle has recycled more than two million mercury-containing lights since launching in 2015.

AB 1158, enacted Oct. 14, 2017, improves California's existing carpet stewardship program, according to the National Stewardship Action Council (PDF), by:

The theme of the biennial Conference on Canadian Stewardship, held in Montreal at the end of September 2017, was "EPR and the Circular Economy." In attendance were "hundreds of delegates representing business, manufacturers, retailers, industry and trade associations, municipalities, provincial and federal and territorial government representatives and stewardship programs from across North America and Europe."

The stewardship organization Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) which operates programs in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and California, recently completed first year annual reports for all three programs and changed the mattress recycling fee consumers pay at the point of purchase.

On October 10, CalRecycle held a Packaging Reform workshop.

In July, China announced its intention to ban the import of certain recyclable materials ("several plastic resins including PET, PE, PVC, PS, and "other" plastics), textiles, unsorted mixed paper, and other materials") starting in 2018. Experts are weighing in on the potential effects to markets and U.S. curbside recycling programs. Clarissa Morawski sees opportunities.

Video, notes, or slides from these events can be found at:

PaintCare, the paint stewardship organization which manages paint stewardship programs in 8 states and Washington, DC, is hiring a Southeast Regional Coordinator for California (PDF), to assist with growing and maintaining the paint stewardship program in California.

On Oct. 11, 2017, CalRecycle held a morning hearing followed by an