As Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation accelerates across the United States, producers face an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving compliance environment. In this interactive session, the RecycleMe team will break down the key developments shaping the U.S. EPR landscape — how we got here, where regulations are headed, and what producers should be doing now to stay ahead.
The session will begin with a practical roadmap of how the current U.S. EPR framework emerged, including the policy drivers behind recent state adoption and the growing momentum toward broader implementation. RecycleMe will explore the foundational principles of EPR, the current status of legislation across the country, and the operational challenges created by fragmented regulations, differing reporting requirements, and political complexity.
Drawing from firsthand experience supporting the 2025 and 2026 reporting cycles, the team will share key lessons learned, emerging compliance trends, and the realities producers are facing as programs move from legislation into implementation. The discussion will also highlight where harmonization is possible — and where producers can proactively “lean into” alignment strategies to reduce administrative burden, improve reporting consistency, and better position themselves for future requirements.
The session will conclude with practical best practices for effective EPR implementation, including approaches to source reduction planning, eco-modulation readiness, packaging optimization, and long-term compliance strategy, and will include actual case studies. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to navigate the evolving landscape while maximizing both environmental impact and operational efficiency.