Maine passes EPR reform to strengthen recycling, protect proven systems

After the Maine Governor, Janet Mills, signed LD 1423 into law, the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) made a statement. 

The law, An Act To Support and Improve Municipal Recycling by Updating the Stewardship Program for Packaging, makes measurable improvements to Maine's existing extended producer responsibility (EPR) program. 

The full statement by AF&PA Vice President of Industry Affairs, Terry Webber:

"AF&PA applauds Maine Governor Janet Mills and state lawmakers for advancing LD 1423, which makes much-needed improvements to the state's EPR policy.

"We appreciate policymakers' measured approach while crafting this legislation. By working together, we can achieve our shared goal of improving recycling for materials with low recycling rates without disrupting the effective systems that are already in place for highly recycled materials, like paper and paper packaging products.

"The paper and paper packaging recycling system is robust in Maine and throughout the country. In 2023, an impressive 65 to 69 percent of all paper was recovered for recycling nationwide. This achievement is due to the voluntary investments in manufacturing capacity made by the paper industry to ensure paper collected from municipal waste streams is recycled into new products.

"We look forward to continued dialogue with Maine's elected officials and regulators to implement the state's EPR program."