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California Product Stewardship Act Aims for Friendlier Product Designs, Packaging

A bill introduced by assemblyman Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata) aims to reduce waste, litter, and greenhouse gases and create thousands of green jobs. The California Product Stewardship Act, AB 283, also would tackle the front end of product life cycles by incentivizing producers to design products and packaging that are less toxic, more durable, reusable, recyclable and/or biodegradable.

Chesbro, the chair of the Assembly’s Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee, says:

Product stewardship will reduce government spending and greenhouse gases, while creating jobs that are desperately needed in our state. This bill will help move California out of its budget crisis and into a ‘cradle to cradle’ state that takes care of its own.

The plan to put more focus on the design and making of products and packaging is also being termed as “extended producer responsibility (EPR).” EPR is a policy approach that shifts waste management costs from local governments to the producers who make design and marketing decisions.

AB 283 is meant to confront the fact that, even with new recycling programs, California is still generating more waste than ever – 40 million tons annually.

Source: California Product Stewardship Council

Photo: James Cridland, via everystockphotoc.com

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