Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The Massachusetts Extended Producer Responsibility Commission, established under a 2024 climate law, released its final report on Jan. 15, recommending legislation for EPR programs covering electronics, batteries, paint and mattresses to shift waste management costs for these products from municipalities to producers.
The commission’s report recommends the enactment of legislation to establish an EPR program for the following:
• Electronics, such as computers, laptops, tablets, monitors, televisions, printers and cell phones
• Batteries, incorporating safety measures for damaged or lithium-ion batteries, and aligning with the Rechargeable Battery Association model EPR legislation as much as possible
• Mattresses, mandatory recycling in a way that aligns with existing programs as much as possible
• Paint, including aerosol-based paint, in a way that aligns with programs already in place in many other Northeast states
The commission acknowledged related bills currently under consideration by the Legislature, but did not endorse any specific bills.
The commission declined to make recommendations on general packaging at this time, “due to the vast amount of technical information and expanded stakeholder engagement needed to advance such an initiative.” The commission recommended that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection be charged with establishing a subcommittee of its Solid Waste Advisory Committee to further investigate EPR for plastics and other packaging, and that the Legislature appropriate the resources to complete a needs assessment within two years.
The MMA has strongly supported EPR as a way of shifting responsibility for certain difficult-to-manage and costly products to retailers and manufacturers, rather than municipalities.
EPR reduces adverse health, safety and environmental impacts from products throughout their lifecycle, from the point of manufacturing to the eventual disposal or recycling. This “product stewardship” process also creates certain economic benefits, as manufacturers and retailers seek to ensure that their products have maximum value and minimal impact throughout their lifecycles.
The commission report points out that municipalities paid more than $8 million in 2024 for mattress management, and that 1.8 million gallons of unused paint waste is generated annually.
The Extended Producer Responsibility Commission, led by the MassDEP, focused on products that are costly for municipalities to manage or contain hazardous materials, with the goal of fostering sustainable, producer-led recycling systems.