Estimating the Impact of Tradeoffs in US EPRP Rulemaking Scenarios

Grantees: Cindy Isenhour and Erin Victor, Anthropology & Climate Change Institute, UMaine, Jean MacRae, Civil and Environmental Engineering, UMaine, Jonathan Rubin, Economics & Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, UMaine, Michael Haedicke, Sociology, UMaine, Reed Miller, Industrial Ecology, UMaine

Budget: $197,800

Project Duration: 2 years

As Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (EPRP) programs expand across the U.S., policymakers face critical decisions about how to define recycling, set fees, and measure success. This EREF-funded research analyzes how different EPRP rulemaking scenarios influence environmental, economic, and social outcomes. Focusing on plastic packaging in the personal care sector, the study models the impacts of six policy designs using life cycle assessment and economic modeling. The goal is to identify rule structures that not only fund waste management but also incentivize sustainable packaging redesign and harmonize policy across states.

About EREF

EREF is a 501(c)3 class charity that advances scientific research and creates educational pathways that enable innovation in sustainable waste management practices. For complete information on EREF-funded research, its scholarship program, and how to donate to this great cause, visit erefdn.org.