Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Waste Collection: Organize and fund the

Law collection of post-consumer products.

Republic Act No. 11898 Recycling: Ensure that products are

Enacted on July 23, 2022 recycled or reused as much as possible.

Atty. Dianne Nicole R. Vergel de Dios Waste Reduction: Promote designs that
reduce waste generation and
This law amends RA 9003, OTHERWISE KNOWN environmental impact.
AS THE “ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000” Under EPR, producers have a few key
responsibilities:

Outline Waste Collection:

Producers must organize and fund systems that
What is EPR? collect post-consumer products. This could
Who does it apply to? include setting up drop-off locations,
How does it work? implementing curbside pickup, or creating a
EPR goals and benefits take-back program where consumers can return
Summary used items.

Recycling:
What is EPR? Producers are required to ensure that products
are recycled to the highest extent possible. This
A law that holds producers responsible for involves partnering with recycling facilities and
managing the waste generated by their ensuring the materials in their products can be
products after they are used by processed.
consumers.
Waste Reduction:
Producers must take responsibility for the A critical responsibility is to design products
entire lifecycle of their products, from that generate less waste in the first place.
manufacturing to disposal or recycling. Producers are encouraged to reduce excess
packaging, use recyclable materials, and create
At its core, EPR is a law that requires producers products that are easier to disassemble and
to take responsibility for managing the waste reuse. This reduces the amount of waste that
their products create after they’re used by ends up in landfills."
consumers. This includes products that end up
in landfills, recycling facilities, or even get
incinerated. Who does the EPR Law apply to?

EPR shifts the financial and logistical All businesses and manufacturers that
responsibility from taxpayers and governments produce goods, especially packaging,
to the producers themselves, ensuring that electronics, and other waste-generating
businesses account for the environmental products.
impact of their products long after they’ve been
sold. So, who does EPR apply to? Essentially, it
applies to all businesses and manufacturers that
The key principle behind EPR is that producers produce goods—especially those that generate
are responsible for the entire lifecycle of their waste.
products—from manufacturing to disposal or
recycling. This means that it’s not just about This law impacts industries that make
designing a product that works for consumers, packaging, electronics, furniture, appliances,
but also considering what happens when the batteries, and more.
product is no longer in use.
For example, packaging from food and beverage
EPR encourages producers to design products companies, electronics from tech firms, and
with recycling and reuse in mind, reducing even mattresses or furniture all fall under EPR if
environmental harm at every stage. This way, they contribute to waste.
producers are motivated to make products that
last longer, are easier to recycle, and have less In short, if a company’s products end up being
impact on the environment. discarded by consumers, they likely have
obligations under EPR laws.

Producer Responsibilities
How does the EPR Law work?
Producers may set up their own collection Environmental Protection: Reduces
systems or partner with third parties to pollution and encourages sustainable
ensure proper waste management. product design.
Economic Growth: Creates green jobs in
They may also pay fees to waste recycling, waste management, and
management programs to fund the sustainability sectors.
collection and recycling efforts. Waste Reduction: Promotes recycling and
better waste management practices.

IN PRACTICE: "There are several significant benefits of EPR:

Collection Systems
Third Party Partnerships Environmental Protection:
Fees to Waste Management Programs EPR reduces pollution by promoting product
designs that are easier to recycle and have less
Now let’s dive into how EPR works in practice: environmental impact. Products made with
sustainable materials and recycling in mind
Collection Systems: reduce waste and pollution in landfills and
Producers can set up their own collection and oceans.
recycling programs. For example, a company
might establish designated drop-off points for Waste Reduction:
used electronics, or they might manage a By shifting the responsibility to producers, EPR
collection service for their packaging. encourages recycling and better waste
management practices, leading to a significant
Third-Party Partnerships: reduction in waste that ends up in landfills. This
Alternatively, producers can partner with third- also reduces the demand for virgin materials,
party waste management organizations to conserving natural resources.
handle collection, recycling, and disposal. These
third parties often have the necessary Economic Growth:
infrastructure to ensure proper waste EPR fosters the growth of green industries,
management. such as recycling, waste management, and
sustainable product design. It also creates jobs
Fees to Waste Management Programs: in these sectors, supporting the green economy
In many regions, producers are required to pay while benefiting the environment. Companies
fees to publicly or privately run waste that adopt sustainable practices may also see
management programs. These fees are used to financial advantages, as consumers are
fund the collection, recycling, and disposal of increasingly favoring environmentally
waste. They help ensure that recycling facilities responsible businesses."
are available and that products are properly
handled after use.
In Summary

Goal of EPR The EPR Law encourages producers to be

responsible for the waste they create, ultimately
To reduce waste in landfills, increase leading to cleaner environments, better waste
recycling rates, and minimize the management, and more sustainable practices.
environmental impact of products after
use.

"The main goal of EPR is to reduce the amount

of waste that ends up in landfills, increase
recycling rates, and minimize the overall
environmental impact of products. By holding
producers accountable, the system ensures that
the full lifecycle of a product is considered and
managed—this can lead to more sustainable
product designs, better recycling infrastructure,
and less pollution.

In the long run, EPR creates a circular economy

where products are reused, recycled, or
repurposed rather than being thrown away."

Benefits of EPR