Gigi On Earth

Lately, I’ve been diving into books on climate solutions, and one policy that keeps coming up is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)—and honestly, it just makes so much sense.

At its core, EPR shifts the responsibility for waste back onto the companies that create it, rather than leaving it for municipalities (or, let’s be real, consumers) to figure out. Right now, when we buy something, the company’s job is done once we walk out of the store. But what happens to that product when it breaks, becomes obsolete, or just isn’t needed anymore? More often than not, it ends up in a landfill.

Municipal waste systems are overwhelmed with all kinds of new materials that aren’t easy to recycle, meaning a lot of it just gets dumped. Meanwhile, the companies that profited from selling these products don’t have to pay a cent to deal with the waste they’ve created—whether it’s the scraps from manufacturing, unsold goods, or the final disposal of their products.

How EPR Could Change the Game

One thing I find really exciting about EPR is how it could push industries to recycle valuable materials—like copper, which is crucial for clean energy tech. Mining for resources is incredibly destructive, but if companies were required to collect and reuse the materials from their own products, we could cut down on mining and make the shift to clean energy more sustainable.

It could also put an end to planned obsolescence—you know, when companies design products to break or become outdated quickly so you have to keep buying new ones. If companies had to pay for the waste they create, they’d be more likely to design products that last and are easy to repair. Imagine if replacing a part on your phone or laptop was as simple as swapping in a new battery!

Holding Polluters Accountable

EPR isn’t just about solid waste—it could also apply to toxic pollution. Right now, when companies release harmful chemicals into the air or water, it’s governments (and ultimately taxpayers) who deal with the consequences—whether that’s rising healthcare costs from pollution-related illnesses or environmental cleanup efforts. But what if companies had to pay for the health and environmental damage they cause? Would they start making safer, more sustainable choices?

Time for Innovation

To me, EPR is such an exciting idea because it forces companies to innovate if they want to stay profitable. Instead of dumping problems on municipalities and consumers, they’d have to get creative with sustainable solutions. And honestly, isn’t that the kind of thinking we need to tackle the climate crisis?

Would love to hear your thoughts—should companies be responsible for the waste they create? Let’s talk in the comments!