NW Product Stewardship Council Associates Update

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Northwest Product Stewardship Council Associates Update -- September 2009

September 2009

LEGISLATION
Oregon Moves Forward With Implementation of Paint Producer Responsibility Law
Oregon is moving forward with the plan to implement the Oregon Paint Product Stewardship Law. Stakeholder meeting dates have been set for September 24, 2009, November 5, 2009, and December 10, 2009. Meetings with the National Paint & Coating Association (NPCA) and Product Care to finalize implementation details are scheduled to begin in early 2010.

Two Electronics Manufacturer Groups Submit Independent Plans to Collect Electronics in Washington
Two groups of manufacturers have designed and submitted independent plans to the Department of Ecology for participation in the E-Cycle Washington program in 2010. The two entities are the Manufacturer Interstate Takeback System (MITS), made up of Sony and Viewsonic; and the Manufacturers Independent Plan (MIP), whose members include Panasonic, Sharp, Toshiba, and Samsung. If approved, these two additional plans would be required to provide electronics collection service in all cities and counties of the state with populations greater than 10,000. The Department of Ecology is reviewing the plans and will release more details soon.

New York City E-Waste Law Faces Lawsuit from Manufacturers
New York City passed a producer responsibility e-waste ordinance in 2008, similar to the Minnesota e-waste law. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) recently filed a lawsuit on July 24 to prevent New York City from implementing this new e-waste recycling program. The lawsuit challenges aspects of the New York City program which it calls "onerous" - particularly the regulations that require companies to collect products weighing over 15 lbs directly from residences. The lawsuit also claims that it is unconstitutional for states/local government to establish any new manufacturer responsibilities for their products that were sold prior to enactment of the law. The Electronics TakeBack Coalition is helping educate and coordinate states and local governments on this issue. Please contact Barbara Kyle at bkyle@etakeback.org for more information.

NWPSC ACTIVITIES
NWPSC Subcommittees
Pharmaceuticals
Members of the Pharmaceutical subcommittee participated in the National Drug Strategy Roundtable hosted by the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, and U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee. The roundtable was held in Shoreline, Washington in July 2009. Discussion around the table was focused primarily on how to reduce the abuse of pharmaceuticals. Director Kerlikowske and U.S. Rep. Inslee were very interested in the results of the medicine return program in Washington (over 25,000 pounds of medicines collected) and the barriers to collecting controlled substances that were encountered. Director Kerlikowske said he was in discussions with the Drug Enforcement Administration on these issues.

Packaging
The packaging subcommittee is reviewing product stewardship programs from Canada and Europe that focus on packaging to see how those programs operate and if there are any program elements that would be feasible in the United States.

Mercury Lighting Policy
Subcommittee members have been tracking and analyzing 2009 mercury lighting recycling legislative initiatives around the country, especially Maine's new producer responsibility law. Washington members are preparing to participate in a stakeholder meeting to be convened on September 16th in Seattle by the Department of Ecology. The purpose of the meeting will be to consider recommendations for a statewide mercury lighting recycling program. Ecology's recommendations are due to the State Legislature by December 1, 2009 per a budget proviso passed in the 2009 session.

PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP IN THE NEWS
Oregon Paint Program Featured
Oregon’s new Paint Product Stewardship Program was recently featured in the Oregonian. The article discusses the vast amount of paint that is generated in Oregon and reviews how the new program will set up a system to provide residents with convenient recycling solutions for their used paint.

Push for Take-Back of Pharmaceuticals featured in Tacoma News Tribune
Pharmaceutical take-back programs were recently the focus of a Tacoma News Tribune editorial. The article pushes for the establishment of a safe, convenient take-back system for pharmaceuticals to keep dangerous drugs out of the hands of children and teens.

EVENTS
WASTECON 2009 to feature an Introduction to Product Stewardship
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) will feature a workshop on An Introduction to Product Stewardship at their Wastecon 2009 Conference, held September 21 – 24 in Long Beach, CA. The workshop will be lead by Heidi Sanborn, Outreach Director of the Product Policy Institute, and Susan Collins, Executive Director of the Container Recycling Institute, and will focus on the important basics of product stewardship and the key elements to an end-of-life system. The workshop will take place on September 21, 2009 from 9:00AM – 4PM.


WHO IS THE NWPSC?
The Northwest Product Stewardship Council (NWPSC) is a coalition of local government agencies related to solid waste, recycling, resource conservation, environmental protection, water quality and other issues. Together with non-government agencies (NGOs), individuals, and businesses across Washington and Oregon, they form a network supporting product stewardship and extended producer responsibility (EPR). For more information, contact info@productstewardship.net.