Extended Producer Responsibility Law Passes in Maryland

The National Aquarium celebrates Maryland becoming the sixth state to pass a law requiring extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging. EPR requires producers to take more responsibility for the rising costs of managing the waste created when consumers are done using products companies sell. This generally means producers pay for recycling and waste management costs and/or establish waste take-back locations to assume responsibility for the full life cycle of their products' materials. EPR policies aim to divert waste from landfills, lower greenhouse gas emissions, improve recycling and reduce costs for taxpayers. We look forward to working with state agencies, local governments and other stakeholders during public rulemaking processes to ensure the law's packaging framework best benefits Maryland's environment, economy and human health when implemented.

The plastic pollution crisis has been well-documented as global plastic production has outpaced any other manufactured material, and about 40% of plastics manufactured are used for packaging. Plastic packaging makes up about 28% of our waste stream, and the U.S. is one of the world's top generators of new plastic production and plastic waste. The burden and costs of mismanaged materials that become plastic pollution are varied, complex, and economically borne primarily by municipalities and taxpayers. Meanwhile, significant environmental harm is done to the wildlife and ecosystems we treasure. Local governments in Maryland, as with those of other communities across the nation and world, are unable to keep up with the sheer volume of plastic waste. More than half of all plastic ever made accumulates in landfills or in the environment. It breaks down into smaller pieces and endangers wildlife, contaminates the global food web and transports toxins harmful to human health.

Our organization has implemented several plastic reduction and waste diversion measures throughout our operations. We also work with thousands of dedicated volunteers to conduct regular debris cleanups around Fort McHenry and other locations throughout the Chesapeake region. These efforts alone, however, cannot meet the scale of the plastic pollution problem.

The National Aquarium continues to advocate for Maryland to take a more comprehensive approach to address plastic pollution. This EPR for packaging law is an important step forward. Further steps should include establishing standards for minimum recycled content, initiating a bottle deposit return program, and enacting other policies that prioritize source reduction and reuse.