Toxic materials in consumer products and packaging have long been of concern due to impacts on human health and the environment. Lead in gasoline, lead and mercury in paint, mercury in thermometers, cadmium in rechargeable batteries, and heavy metals in packaging are only a few of the more prominent examples where toxics have been banned or phased out of products. More recently, extreme concern over the widespread use of a group of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (known as PFAS) has led to state bans of PFAS in most consumer product uses. As extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws for packaging and household hazardous waste have gained a foothold in the US, there has been increased interest in how existing laws can better regulate toxics in products and packaging, and how these laws can complement, or be integrated within, EPR laws. 

On this webinar, you will hear from an environmental advocate promoting toxics reduction, an industry representative on how toxics in packaging impacts recycling, a state official on how its new packaging EPR law addresses toxics, and a nonprofit group that manages the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse to assist 19 states with a model law restricting toxics in packaging. On the webinar, we will explore how to ensure consistency among EPR and other laws regulating toxics, and whether toxics restrictions should be accomplished through separate but complementary laws or through one integrated law.  

This webinar is open to the entire PSI community; however, the recording will be accessible only to PSI’s Members and Partners.