Extended Producer Responsibility Implementation Research Articles

Extended Producer Responsibility and Trade Flows in Waste: The Case of Batteries

AbstractIn the debate on international waste trade, the focus on resource efficiency and recycling has gradually begun to accompany the focus on negative environmental externalities. In this context, we examine the impact of extended producer responsibility (EPR) on the export of waste batteries (WB). EPR is considered as a key policy for the “marketization of waste”. WB are a hazardous waste that also contain a high concentration of critical raw materials. As such, they are of strategic importance for the recovery of critical resources, while at the same time requiring proper environmental management. Therefore, it is crucial to understand where WB are treated and how this is affected by related policies. Our results, based on difference-in-difference models in a gravity framework, show a consistent increase in WB exports after EPR implementation compared to the trend for other wastes. This result is likely to be an indirect consequence of the ability of EPR to support growth in waste collection rates, more accurate tracking of transboundary waste flows, and specialization of national waste management systems. In particular, WB exports appear to be directed to countries with more advanced waste management systems, more stringent environmental regulations, and limited endowments of the mineral resources typically contained in batteries.

Extended producer responsibility in e‐waste recycling: A secure path to a sustainable future for UAE

AbstractThe effective waste management of electrical and electronic equipment gains increasing importance in the modern world. This issue is particularly relevant for the countries of the Middle East region, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to the research objectives, this study employs the method of political and legal analysis. The paper investigates the features of legal regulation and implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies in the waste management of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in the UAE. At the same time, the study aims to analyze the current environmental protection policy and assess the prospects for its development. The research also determines the development directions for the profile environmental policy regarding general priorities in the field of economic development of the country. The results of the study indicate that the country's current policy and legislative regulation in the implementation of EPR are complex and meet modern challenges.

Mapping the path to sustainable accounting: a DEMATEL-based analysis of key factors influencing effective extended producer responsibility in the circular economy

Purpose This study aims to assess the factors influencing the effective implementation of extended producer responsibility (EPR) practices within the context of sustainable accounting goals and circular economy principles. It seeks to provide insights into the significance of EPR policies for manufacturing industries striving to enhance their environmental, social and governance performance while ensuring sustainable accounting of their business operations. Design/methodology/approach The methodology proposed in this article is based on the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique. This approach formulates a structural framework for evaluating influential elements among critical recognized factors. By using DEMATEL, the study examines the interconnectedness between assessed factors through a cause-and-effect diagram, facilitating the integration of EPR into sustainable accounting practices. Findings The research findings reveal that the most impactful contributors to sustainable accounting practices of EPR within the framework of sustainable development goals and circular economy are producers, consumers, eco-design, public awareness and the support of local authorities. These findings underscore the importance of considering these factors in implementing EPR and advancing sustainable accounting practices. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature by proposing a DEMATEL-based model for evaluating the factors affecting the implementation of EPR within the context of sustainable accounting goals and circular economy principles.

Organizational Sustainability: Extended Producer Responsibility Implementation in India

Organizational Sustainability: Extended Producer Responsibility Implementation in India

Enhanced Evaluation Model Based on Classification Selection Applied to Value Evaluation of Waste Household Appliances

In the process of recycling, dismantling, and reusing household appliances, implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR) has become increasingly important. Designing a reasonable pricing mechanism for waste household appliance recycling is critical for the implementation of EPR. To address the problem of labor-intensive and experience-dependent traditional manual methods for assessing the value of waste household appliances, in this paper, we propose an evaluation method based on the subtractive clustering method and an adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (SCM–ANFIS), which outperforms traditional neural networks such as LSTM, BP neural network, random forest and Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy neural network (T–S FNN). Moreover, in this paper, we combine the five aforementioned algorithms to design a combination evaluation model based on maximum ratio combination (CEM–MRC), which can achieve a performance improvement of 0.1% in terms of mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) compared to the suboptimal BP neural network. Furthermore, an enhanced evaluation model based on classification selection (EEM–CS) is designed to automatically select the evaluation results between the optimal SCM–ANFIS and the suboptimal CEM–MRC, resulting in a 0.73% reduction in MAPE compared to the optimal SCM–ANFIS and a 1.42% reduction compared to the suboptimal CEM–MRC. In this paper, we also validate the performance of the proposed algorithms using a dataset of waste television recycling, which demonstrates the high accuracy of the proposed value assessment mechanisms achieved without human intervention and a significant improvement in evaluation accuracy as compared to conventional neural-network-based algorithms.

Promotion of Producer Contribution to Solve Packaging Waste Issues—Viewpoints of Waste Bank Members in the Bandung Area, Indonesia

As regulations have developed, the waste management sector in Indonesia has increasingly expected producer involvement in waste reduction activity through the enactment of new regulations. In addition, the recent development of the waste management sector now involves community-based approaches such as waste banks. This study aims to determine the relationship between extended producer responsibility implementation and the waste bank concept. A questionnaire survey was designed and applied to waste bank members of two waste banks in the Bandung municipality, Indonesia. Several factors were identified that can be considered by producers to promote their contribution in dealing with the packaging waste issue, such as producer consideration and contribution, knowledge level, collection, and awareness of the importance of packaging waste issue. The result also shows that involving feedback from waste banks can provide some insights to expand and develop producer contribution in reducing the impact of packaging waste. Producers can improve collection and recyclability of their product packaging while increasing public knowledge on their activity at the post-consumer stage.

Who will pay for the decommissioned photovoltaic modules? Evidence from evolutionary game analysis of China’s photovoltaic industry under dynamic incentives

Following the booming of the PV industry, the tide of photovoltaic modules decommissioning is developing fast to raise environmental concerns. The recycling and conversion of decommissioned photovoltaic modules (DPV) becomes a pressing challenge for the industry to sustain growth with less environmental burdens caused to the society. This study introduces Extended producer responsibility (EPR) and Environmental protection tax (EPT) into the governance framework of DPV recycling. Employing evolutionary game theory, this study develops a tripartite evolutionary game model comprising the government, PV enterprises, and households, based on which the interactions and strategic changes among them are revealed. Moreover, the evolutionary trajectory of DPV recycling industry, as well as the impact of driving factors on their strategic changes are verified through empirical simulations of China’s PV industry. It was found that DPV recycling industry will progress through three stages, namely initial stage, middle stage, mature stage, in which the government plays the role of leader and gradually withdraws its participation as the industry evolves. The dynamic incentives are effective in promoting the adoption of EPR, and the mixed incentives with a baseline of a comprehensive recycling rate of 70 % set by the government work best. The recycling efforts and the conversion benefit value promote DPV recycling through EPR by PV enterprises. Heavy environmental protection tax and heavy landfill costs also drive the implementation of EPR. It is suggested that China should implement regional incentive schemes incorporating regional characteristics to encourage DPV recycling locally. This study has certain reference values for the policy and strategy formulations to promote the development of DPV recycling industry.

A circular system for end-of-life tires under extended producer responsibility

ABSTRACT This paper presents a circular recycling system for end-of-life tires (ELTs) under extended producer responsibility (EPR) by integrating Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR) and Industrial Symbiosis (IS). The system aims for sustainability and circularity in the tire industry, avoiding the detrimental effects of landfilling. It focuses on emission-free recyclers to create IS for ensuring environmental sustainability. Additionally, the system uses a “dynamic pricing strategy” to take-back ELTs from consumers. This paper also presents a “multi-period scenario-based nonlinear mixed integer programming” model to investigate the economic sustainability of the proposed system under uncertainty. Three different evolutionary metaheuristic algorithms, “genetic algorithm (GA)-based simulated annealing”, “GA” and a new variant of “particle swarm optimization” are used to obtain the solution of the model. Through a case study, it is found that the proposed system is economically sustainable and has the potential to aid in the successful implementation of EPR in the tire industry.

Extended producer responsibility’s effect on producers’ electronic waste management practices in Japan and Canada: drivers, barriers, and potential of the urban mine

Electronic waste is the fastest-growing domestic waste stream globally, continuously outstripping projections. With increasing ubiquity of complex computing, many non-renewables are contained in end-of-life electronics, creating a vast urban mine, potentially hazardous, depending on treatment. The aim of this study is to compare how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy is applied in two case countries, Japan and Canada, the practical implications of EPR policy design on producer operations, and how EPR affects electronic waste management improvements in each case. These cases share international obligations for electronic waste management but employ contrasting EPR policies. These policies are widespread in both cases, yet are not presided over by larger, regional obligations. Therefore, country-level interviews with electronic waste management stakeholders focusing on how EPR regulation affects producer practice were conducted. The physical application of EPR, as seen in Japan, drives design changes by producers intending to simplify downstream treatment, while financial responsibility in Canada, creates greater concern with cost-savings for producers, complicating end-of-life processing. EPR implementation, along with specific geographical factors, also create contrasting resource recovery results between countries. Regulation primarily drives EPR implementation in both countries, which is consistent with the literature. This study presents new drivers and barriers, namely pre-emptive legislation, and no incentive to improve, classifying the Japanese and Canadian systems as suffering from externalities on an insular system, and lack of harmonization, respectively. This research addresses a gap in comparative studies across regions of physical and financial EPR effects on producer practice.

Challenges of implementing extended producer responsibility for plastic-waste management: lessons from India

PurposeIn the transition towards circular economy and sustainable development, effective implementation of extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation is crucial to prevent plastic-waste generation and promote recycling activities. The purpose of this study is to undertake a qualitative analysis to examine recent EPR policy changes, implementation, barriers and enabling conditions.Design/methodology/approachIn-depth interviews and group discussions with key stakeholders were undertaken to derive the barriers and facilitators of EPR implementation. Based on opinions and insights from a wide range of participants, this study identified a number of key issues faced by various parties in implementing EPR in India.FindingsStakeholders agree on a lack of clarity on various policy aspects, such as mandatory approval of urban local bodies, registration of recyclers/waste processors and consistency in the definition of technical terms. This paper provides useful policy inputs to address these challenges and to develop comprehensive EPR policy systems. More consultation and deliberation across various stakeholders is required to ensure the policies are effective.Practical implicationsIndia’s plastic-waste generation has increased at a rapid pace over the past five years and is expected to grow at a higher rate in the future. This research provides implications for policymakers to formulate coherent policies that align with the interests of brand owners and recyclers. Clear policy suggestions and improvements for effective plastic-waste management in India are also outlined.Originality/valueThis paper, based on a qualitative approach, contributes to research on plastic-waste management by integrating the perspectives of all EPR-policy stakeholders in India.

Applying the extended producer responsibility towards plastic waste in Asian developing countries for reducing marine plastic debris

The extended producer responsibility (EPR) has been adopted in many countries throughout the world to give producers responsibility to manage their products until the post-consumer stage. On many occasions in developing countries, the system is mostly implemented for electronic waste. However, with the rising concern on the marine plastic issue, developing countries, including those in Asia, have started to apply EPR for package and container waste. In practice, developing countries show significant differences in their EPR implementation compared with developed ones due to contrasting conditions of several factors, including social, economic and technology. This article aims to explore the challenges of developing countries to apply EPR as well as determine possible measures to overcome the challenges. Results show that applying EPR system for plastic waste in developing countries faces many challenges, such as the existence of a market-based collection system of recyclables, high transportation cost, lack of waste collection services in rural areas, a limited number of facilities to manage certain types of plastic waste, insufficient pollution control and free riding and orphan products. The challenges, furthermore, can be minimised by differentiating the responsibility of producers, focusing on rural and remote areas, involving informal sectors, creating joint facilities in recycling parks, expanding waste management collection services, increasing the use of EPR and minimising free riding.

Managing plastic packaging waste in emerging economies: The case of EPR in India

India's large population, rapidly growing economy, and the consequent rising plastic waste, has necessitated the need for an efficient and effective plastic waste management (PWM) system for ensuring an environmentally cleaner and sustainable future. Consequently, PWM policy in India has recently undergone a substantial shift from being an informally organized, largely uncoordinated set of programs towards becoming a formal and integrated system based on the extended producer responsibility (EPR) approach. This paper explicates the evolution, development, implementation, and implications of the Indian EPR framework for PWM by developing an integrative mixed-method case study. Using a theory-based stakeholder evaluation model, the study critically analyzes the drivers and constraining factors from a multi-stakeholder perspective and provides prescriptive suggestions on EPR policy formulation and implementation. It highlights three themes i.e., (a) robust regulatory architecture; (b) operational mechanism; and (c) ecosystem catalysts, whose nature, dynamics, and practicality shall determine the future of the Indian EPR framework and those of comparable emerging economies.

Extended Producer Responsibility for Pharmaceuticals

Problem definition: We investigate the effectiveness of different extended producer responsibility (EPR) implementation models for pharmaceuticals. In particular, we study two viable and prevalent models: (1) source reduction (SR), where a form of fee on sale is imposed on producers, and (2) end-of-pipe control (EC), where producers are made responsible for the collection of unused pharmaceuticals. Academic/practical relevance: The existing literature on EPR implementation models has focused primarily on nonconsumable products (e.g., electronics), whereas there is limited research on the effectiveness of different EPR implementation models for pharmaceuticals used in practice. We aim to fill this gap in this study. Methodology: We develop a game-theoretic model to characterize the equilibrium strategies of different stakeholders under both the SR and EC models and compare the resulting producer profit, environmental/social impact, and total welfare. Results: In contrast to the nonconsumable contexts where the SR model is shown to maximize total welfare, the EC model leads to a higher total welfare for certain categories of pharmaceuticals because of its effectiveness in eliminating overprescription. Moreover, we characterize conditions under which stakeholder (e.g., producer, environmental/social advocacy groups) preferences toward EPR implementation model choices are (mis-)aligned. We further show that limiting the social planner’s budget surplus under SR can eliminate the preference misalignment but leads to a loss of total welfare. Managerial implications: (1) Policymakers should be cautious about directly applying preferred EPR models from other product categories to the pharmaceutical setting. (2) The EC model maximizes the objectives of all stakeholders for a salient category of pharmaceuticals with high health benefits, high collection costs, and high environmental/social costs. (3) Policymakers should give thought to differentiating EPR implementation models across pharmaceutical categories. (4) It is important to carefully quantify the health impact of the pharmaceuticals and the operational cost parameters to inform policymaking.

Extended Producer Responsibility: A Systematic Review and Innovative Proposals for Improving Sustainability

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is an environmental policy introduced in Europe, back in the 1990s. Under EPR, a producer's responsibility for its products is extended beyond the consumption stage, and the producer has to meet the targets of collection and recycling rates imposed by the EPR legislation. Motivated by the importance of this topic, in this paper, we conduct a systematic review on EPR from an operations management perspective. To be specific, we categorize the EPR literature, for both e-wastes and non-e-wastes, by research methodologies (qualitative case studies, quantitative empirical research, and analytical modeling studies) and discuss the respective findings. In addition to systematically exploring the state-of-the-art research within the context of EPR, we investigate pertinent issues, such as the implementation of EPR, EPR management systems, supply chain management under EPR, and EPR-related operations (such as end-of-life product management and design for recyclability). We highlight some EPR-related innovative measures and proposals in five areas, namely policy, product, process, supply chain, and technology. Finally, we discuss future research and propose a concluding picture of how EPR can help establish innovative operational measures to improve sustainability.

Extended Producer Responsibility in the Australian Construction Industry

With the COVID-19 outbreak across the world, policymakers and authorities have realised that they cannot solve the emerging issues using conventional policies and practices. COVID-19 has severely affected many industries, including construction and demolition (C&D) waste management and C&D waste resource recovery sector. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and schemes alike are policy instruments that prevent waste generation and promote a circular economy in the construction industry. These schemes are long adopted in various countries for different waste streams. EPR policy development and implementation, particularly for C&D waste, is still at an early stage in Australia. This study aims to review the Australian regulatory environment and practice to identify barriers and enablers towards successful policy development and implementation of C&D waste-related EPR. This study is based on secondary data that are publicly available. The document analysis was conducted to identify the level of regulatory and other stakeholders support in Australia. Following three rounds of examination of sources and applying multiple selection criteria, 59 different sources were reviewed in total. The results showed that there is widespread support among different stakeholders to develop EPR and expand the existing regulation to other materials. The barriers were cost and time implications for EPR policy establishment and enforcement, diversity of stakeholders involved, construction product lifecycle, responsibility of manufacturers, complexity in implantation of EPR regulations, modification inbuilt facilities and health and safety issues. Recommendations are made to alleviate these challenges. The outcome of this study could serve as a guideline for designing effective EPR policies.

Recycling Infrastructure Development under Extended Producer Responsibility in Developing Economies

To tackle the severe pollution caused by electronic waste (e‐waste), several developing countries have introduced e‐waste legislation based on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). A major challenge to implement EPR in developing countries is the lack of formal recycling infrastructure. In this paper, we study if a collective form of EPR implementation where producers may jointly invest in recycling facilities can promote their incentives to do so. We develop a Nash bargaining model that captures the decision dynamics underlying joint recycling facility investment. We show that despite its advantage in reducing producers’ fixed investment costs, joint investment in the collective system may lead to a worse recycling infrastructure development outcome than independent investment in an individual system. This can particularly happen when the collective system involves products whose recycling costs are highly differentiated. We further show that cost sharing based on the principle of Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR) may undermine the recycling infrastructure development outcome in the collective system compared to simple proportional cost sharing rules. In practice, it is generally believed that IPR leads to better design incentives than proportional cost sharing rules. Accordingly, our result indicates that there exists a tradeoff between these two cost sharing rules, and promoting recycling infrastructure development via collective systems may come at the expense of design incentives and vice versa.

Implementation of harmonized Extended Producer Responsibility strategies to incentivize recovery of single-use plastic packaging waste in Canada

Millions of tonnes of virgin (primary) plastic are produced annually, while recoverable (secondary) plastic rapidly accumulates as waste in landfills and the environment. Single-use plastics (SUPs) have short lifespans, and most of this waste is generated by packaging from global food industries. Food packaging waste comprises approximately one-third (8 million tonnes) of all Canadian municipal solid waste, and only 20% is recovered for reuse or recycling. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) strategies leverage corporate resources to reduce SUP waste generated by consumers. Implementation of EPR strategies allows local jurisdictions to gain greater control over their waste streams. Although Canada has had a national EPR strategy since 2009, it is currently only implemented for packaging in five provinces (e.g., British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Québec), and is currently under development in New Brunswick. In this short communication, a case example of EPR implementation in Nova Scotia is provided which highlights the potential economic benefits for municipalities ($14–17 M CAD in estimated savings), for improved solid waste management and for increasing recycling rates. Further, a regional EPR strategy is recommended for all Atlantic Canadian provinces (e.g., Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia) now that the Canadian federal government has announced a move towards zero plastic waste under the Ocean Plastics Charter.

Extended producer responsibility for E-waste management: Policy drivers and challenges

Abstract A range of extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs have been developed for managing electronic waste. In Canada, where efforts have led to more harmonised EPR programs, one province (Quebec) has introduced regulatory measures beyond those adopted elsewhere in the country. We investigate the causes for this different approach, and stakeholder interests and interactions that influenced EPR design and implementation, in Quebec. We also discuss how various actors have been affected by, and have responded to, Quebec’s EPR program, and provide an update on how it has fared since coming into force in 2011. We conclude with some questions for further research. Quebec’s regulation demonstrates a greater demand for and supply of support for maintaining local employment through refurbishing and reuse, and reducing the environmental impacts of products through modulated fees, both due to the regulator’s ideology and interest, and vocal stakeholders on the demand side. The Quebec case shows that jurisdictions in which local firms and employment are least affected by regulation may be the most likely to experiment with novel policy instruments. At the same time, the fact that many provisions in the regulation are facing hurdles, five years after coming into force, demonstrates the hard realities of policy making and implementation, beyond the mere passing of legislation.

Critical factors for environmental regulation change management: Evidences from an extended producer responsibility case study

Abstract Contemporary environmental challenges have led governments to seek innovative ways to overcome the limits of traditional regulatory models, demanding a “change management”. This article addresses a case study regarding innovations promoted in the extended-producer responsibility (EPR) implementation by Sao Paulo state, Brazil. After facing resistance from industry, local government changed its approach from traditional regulation to negotiated agreements. As one of the researchers was an active part of the process, the Active Research method was adopted, through the changing as three steps model, aiming to understand how change occurs and what its critical factors (facilitators, barriers and improvement opportunities). Results indicate that the incorporation of the principles of regulatory quality has made it possible to overcome the gridlock and reopen the dialog, leading to agreements between industry and government. The evidence also shows that the EPR strategy has been continued and expanded, with the renewal of commitments with more ambitious goals, besides the inclusion of retailers in some EPR systems. Regulation has also evolved, with the incorporation of EPR in the environmental permitting, intending to combat free riders. Facilitators for change included recognition of the government, a gradual approach, cultural changes in companies and the systematization of information. Among the barriers, the most crucial were the low adherence of retailers and importers, the considerable presence of free riders, difficulties with the participation of municipalities, the absence of tax incentives, the low adhesion of generators, high operating costs, and collection problems. Finally, among the opportunities for improvement, results show the expansion of participants, mainly municipalities and retailers, a tax review, inclusion in environmental education programs, incorporation in environmental permitting, increased surveillance to combat free riders, and incentives to the recycling chain. Finally, the conclusions emphasize the success in incorporating principles of environmental regulatory quality in the Sao Paulo EPR implementation strategy. This fact strengthens the conclusions of previous research and suggests that its incorporation in policy design has the potential to overcome implementation gridlocks in complex environmental regulations.

The joint tax-subsidy mechanism incorporating extended producer responsibility in a manufacturing-recycling system

The joint tax-subsidy policy is a typical form to implement the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in several countries and cities. An understanding of EPR implementation mechanisms can help governments to impose proper taxes and subsidies which can further incubate ecological and environment-friendly manufacturing-recycling systems. This paper aims to investigate the joint tax-subsidy mechanism using game theory by considering a manufacturing-recycling system consisting of a government, a manufacturer, and a recycler. Results show that such joint tax-subsidy mechanism can motivate the manufacturer to pursue eco-innovation and to incorporate the recycling considerations into its production and eco-innovation decisions. The mechanism can reinforce the benefit of the eco-innovation to the manufacturer by adding revenue to the recycler, because higher revenue to the recycler leads to higher production quantity of the manufacturer. Eco-innovation factors and recycling factors that define the backgrounds of mechanism implementation are identified, managerial insights for governments into how to change the mechanism in response to different backgrounds are provided. This study provides a guideline for the government to design the joint tax-subsidy mechanism and a reference for firms to effectively fulfill their environmental responsibility.