Extended Producer Responsibility
In 80s in the twentieth century, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development “polluter pays” concept was expanded to cover the responsibility of the producer for the products produced by him throughout the entire life cycle, including the stage of its final disposal.
is an environmental protection strategy aimed at reducing the negative environmental impact of products throughout the entire life cycle by making them responsible for damage caused by the product and especially the responsibility for collection, processing and final disposal of the product to its producer or importer.
Later, principle was introduced at the EU level and is used in most countries of the world.
Idea:
A management strategy that encourages producers to take into account the environmental consequences already at the production stage.
Purposes:
To reduce the generation of waste and increase the degree of use (processing) of products by:
Systems:
01. Individual responsibility of the producer: the producer himself organizes the collection and processing of used products.
02. Collective responsibility of the producer: The government approves or the producers form an association that organizes the collection and processing of used products at the expense of membership fees .
Products
(usually in most countries)
Types
(usually in most countries)
Mandatory
Voluntary
Tab. 1. Mechanisms
| Mechanisms | To promote collection and reuse | To promote secondary processing |
| Objective |
✓ To ensure the quantity and quality of the incoming flow ✓ To collect more |
✓ To ensure the involvement of secondary resources into circulation ✓ To process better |
| Methods |
✓ Mandatory return of used products electrical and electronic equipment, vehicles ✓ Pledge-return system packaging for purchase of beverages |
✓ Environmental tax from producers of hazardous and difficult to process goods chewing gum, cigarettes, diapers |
| Objectives |
✓ To provide a waste stream for processing (high in quality, sufficient in quantity) ✓ To support the processor (profitability of processing and demand for secondary products) |
|
| Solutions |
✓ Wide network of collection points ✓ Educating the population (what and where to deliver) ✓ Processor’s access to the waste stream ✓ Economic support for the processor (at the first stage) ✓ Promotion of the demand for secondary products |
|
Tab. 2. Participants
| Participant | Role |
| Consumer |
✓ sorting and return of used goods / secondary materials |
| Producer (processor) |
✓ in good faith fulfills his processing obligations independently or through collective systems |
| The Operator |
✓ keeps records of sales and imports and determines the plan for the fulfillment of the producer’s obligations ✓ maintains reports on behalf of the producer ✓ organizes the collection, processing and disposal of used goods through the conclusion of contracts with processing enterprises ✓ administers operations related to the implementation of the, incl. payment of disposal fees |
| The local government |
✓ provides the infrastructure for separate collection for goods covered |
| The state |
✓ legislative activity and supervision ✓ determines the list of goods under ✓ approves the disposal standards for each product under |
Tab. 3. Schemes for the implementation
| Scheme 1 | Scheme 2 |
|
✓ One Operator in the market, responsible for collection and processing ✓ All producers and importers pay contributions Individual responsibility is possible with offset of fulfilled obligations (the amount of the contribution is reduced) |
✓ Same as Scheme 1 Individual responsibility is possible with offset of fulfilled obligations (the amount of the contribution is reduced) |
| Scheme 3 | Scheme 4 |
|
✓ Number Operators is not limited ✓ Areas of responsibility are allocated by the municipality or federal body ✓ All producers act through associations Individual responsibility is possible, but without offsetting fulfilled obligations (the amount of the contribution does not change) |
✓ Same as Scheme 3 Individual responsibility is possible with the offset of fulfilled obligations (the amount of the contribution is reduced) |
Types of financial responsibility
There is a wide variety schemes, among which the following can be distinguished:
“Simple” financial responsibility: producers have no obligation other than to fund existing waste management channels (e.g. through Packaging Recovery Notes in the UK). This model has several other incentives to improve waste management besides financial incentives (figure).
Financial responsibility under contracts with municipalities: producers establish contracts with municipalities for the collection and treatment of waste (e.g. packaging in France). Producers’ motivation to improve waste management depends on the type of contract. The financial contribution of the producers is based on the results achieved by all enterprises in the municipality in terms of collection and/or the speed of processing.
Financial responsibility and partial organizational responsibility: Some activities are under the jurisdiction of municipalities (for example, collection is carried out by waste collection operators or under contracts with private companies), with financial support from producers, while other activities (for example, sorting, recoverable materials for resale) are the responsibility of the producers (e.g. packaging in Belgium).
Financial responsibility and full organizational responsibility: пproducers use professional waste collection and processing subcontractors (e.g. electronic and electrical waste in France) or have their own part of the collection and processing infrastructure (e.g. packaging waste in Germany)
Principles implementation:
Principles of the implementation:
1.Stage-by-stage expansion of the product list
2.Contribution funds go to the processor/collector for disposal purposes
3.Establishment of the amount of the contribution in proportion to:
-market share of manufactured products;
-the quantity or weight of disused products or the weight of the packaging;
Constant monitoring system and updating of legislation;
The results of the absence:
The legal framework for the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility at the EU level is represented by both the general waste management legislation
the requirements of which were subsequently included into the relevant national legislation of the EU member states. The last three directives provide direct requirements and recommendations for the establishment systems in member countries for the products referred to in these directives. Although the Directive 2004/12/EC does not provide for the obligation to establish for packaging, most member countries have chosen this option.
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