Producer Responsibility Recycling
Producer Responsibility Recycling is the means for achieving a deep transformation of wasteful production and consumption. We aim to lead the transition from traditional end-of-pipe waste "diversion" programs provided by local governments to "cradle to cradle" recycling systems designed, financed and managed by producers, in order to drive improvements in product design, stimulate local economies and reduce climate change impacts of transportation- and energy-intensive product chains.
Cradle to Cradle Recycling for the 21st Century
 A century ago urban squalor and disease led citizen reformers to demand cities take action. They did. Cities became responsible for disposing of waste.
But urban refuse was different then. It was mostly coal ash and food scraps, with a small proportion of simple manufactured products like paper and glass. Today, 75% of our waste is throw-away products and packaging, some containing toxic components. Despite municipal recycling, these wastes keep growing. Local communities have been shouldered with the burden of cleaning up after producers and consumers of wasteful products. By subsidizing wasteful product makers, we’re providing welfare for waste!
Solution: Producer Responsibility-based Recycling
There are laws that make producers responsible for taking back their products and recycling them. Bottle bills are an early example. These fundamental reforms can arrest and reverse the century-long trend of waste growth. Products will no longer be designed for the dump. Municipal waste management can return to its original purpose of serving local communities, rather than subsidizing the Throw-Away Society. In the future, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems will handle all products and packaging ("made stuff"). Municipal systems will handle composting of organics ("grown stuff").
Producer Responsibility Recycling Campaign
We urge Sierra Club members to learn about successful producer responsibility approaches and to press your local governments to become part of the historic shift from welfare for waste to producer responsibility. Initial emphasis will be on the many common household hazardous products that are creating the greatest risk to health and environment and the greatest financial burden on local government. We must also press for safe and effective management of food scraps, which contribute significantly to climate change and ground-water pollution. Let’s make landfills and incinerators relics of the Victorian Era, when they were introduced!
Community Resolutions
Community EPR Resolutions
Fundamental change starts with citizens in communities convincing their elected leaders to take a stand. Citizens are starting to give their local governments "permission" to stop providing welfare for waste. They are demanding a transition to Producer Responsibility recycling. Local Producer Responsibility resolutions are being adopted in California, Massachusetts and Texas – for examples see this page on the California Product Stewardship Council web site. Your community can become part of the New Recycling Movement too!
This photo is available as a download for inclusion in your chapter or group newsletter. Click here and "save target as." 1600x1200 pixels, 400kb.
The Sierra Club encourages everyone to properly recycle fluorescent bulbs at their end of life. The Club is in the process of completing the "Sierra Club Guidelines for Selecting and Distributing Environmentally Preferable Light Bulbs" that includes recommendations on recycling. This photo shows fluorescent bulbs found during a load check inspection at the Miramar, CA landfill. Enforcement action was taken against the responsible party which included a significant cleanup.
Photo: Fluorescents provided courtesy of the City of San Diego, used with permission.
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