Extended producer responsibility

What is extended producer responsibility?

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a relatively new tool designed to reduce waste from consumer goods and its impact on the environment. EPR involves producers taking more responsibility for managing the environmental impact of their products throughout their life.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development defines EPR as:

'an environmental policy approach in which a producer's responsibility for a product is extended to the post-consumer stage of the product's life cycle.

The aim is both to keep products and materials out of the waste stream and to reduce their environmental impact. Manufacturers can play a role beyond the point of sale or warranty by, for example, designing products that produce less waste, use fewer resources, and contain more recycled and less toxic components.

EPR schemes have been implemented in many other countries and regions including Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Japan and Korea.

How does EPR apply to NSW?

The Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001 provides for the introduction of extended producer responsibility schemes in NSW.

EPR schemes extend manufacturers' and suppliers' responsibility for their products to the post-consumer stage of the product's life cycle.

The Act encourages industries to take voluntary action to reduce the environmental impacts of their products. Regulatory EPR schemes will not be introduced where such voluntary reduction schemes have proved effective.