SPE COURSE: US EPR Laws Surrounding Plastics and Packaging Waste

  Course

US EPR Laws Surrounding Plastics and Packaging Waste

  May 20, 2026
  2:00 PM to 3:00 PM ET.
  Online

US EPR Laws Surrounding Plastics and Packaging Waste

  Summary

EPR laws are changing how plastics and packaging are designed, collected, and recycled in the U.S. This class reviews what the current EPR framework in the US is. We discuss how state-level EPR programs operate, including producer fees, recyclability criteria, and infrastructure investment. Discussion includes how these policies affect materials selection, product design, and supply chain decisions. Challenges associated with navigating the patchwork nature of the regulatory environment are also addressed.

 

If you can't attend the session live, or if you want to review some concepts, the recording will be available after the session.

  Who Should Attend?

This course is designed for professionals who work with plastics, packaging, and sustainability strategies and need to understand the evolving U.S. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) landscape, including:

  • Packaging and product design engineers
  • Sustainability and ESG professionals
  • Regulatory, compliance, and legal teams
  • Brand owners and product managers
  • Materials, polymer, and packaging engineers
  • Recycling and waste-management professionals
  • Supply chain and procurement leaders
  • Consultants, policy professionals, and analysts working with packaging regulations

  Why Should You Attend?

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws are rapidly changing how plastics and packaging are designed, collected, financed, and recycled in the United States. As more states adopt EPR programs, companies must adapt to new producer fees, recyclability requirements, and reporting obligations.

This course provides a clear overview of the current U.S. EPR framework and explains how state-level laws impact material selection, packaging design, and business strategy. It is designed to help organizations move from compliance awareness to informed decision-making.

  Everyday Problems You’ll Address

  • How do state-level EPR laws differ across the U.S., and why is compliance so complex?
  • How are producer fees calculated, and how do they affect packaging cost structures?
  • What does ‘recyclability’ mean under different EPR programs?
  • How do EPR requirements influence material selection and packaging design choices?
  • How should companies plan for investments in recycling infrastructure driven by EPR laws?
  • How can organizations manage risk in a patchwork regulatory environment with evolving rules?

  What You’ll Learn

You will learn:

  • The current EPR framework in the United States for plastics and packaging waste
  • How state-level EPR programs operate, including governance structures and funding mechanisms
  • The role of producer fees, eco-modulation, and recyclability criteria
  • How EPR policies impact material choices, package design, and supply-chain decisions
  • Key challenges associated with navigating multiple state EPR programs
  • Practical considerations for aligning packaging strategies with EPR compliance and long-term recycling goals

  Why This Course Matters

EPR laws are reshaping the U.S. packaging and plastics landscape, shifting financial and operational responsibility upstream to producers. Decisions made today about materials, designs, and supply chains will determine future compliance costs and market competitiveness.

This course matters because it:

  • Helps organizations anticipate regulatory impacts before laws take effect
  • Reduces compliance risk in a fragmented, state-by-state regulatory environment
  • Supports smarter material and design decisions aligned with recyclability requirements
  • Improves coordination between sustainability, engineering, regulatory, and business teams
  • Enables proactive strategies rather than reactive compliance as EPR expands across the U.S.

  Registration Information

SPE Premium Member$FREE
SPE Members$45
SPE Student Members$25
(Student but not a student member? Join SPE for free to get program discounts!)
Nonmembers$249

  Workshop Packs

Strengthen your team’s skills and take advantage of group savings with an SPE Workshop Pack.
Go here for Workshop Pack information and registration.

 
1 Sessions
 
Level: Intermediate
 
Total Hours: 1 Hour
 
Streaming access on desktop and mobile browsers

  Instructor

Nicole Zacharia, Ph.D.
Program Director for Online Engineering Programs in Polymers
University of Wisconsin - Madison
  LinkedIn

Dr. Zacharia was trained as a materials scientist (MIT) focusing in bio and polymeric materials, followed by a postdoc at the University of Toronto. She was faculty at Texas A&M University in mechanical engineering and then at the University of Akron in Polymer Engineering. Since 2019 she has been at the University of Wisconsin Madison, where she is the Program Director for online engineering programs in polymers. 

  Questions? Contact:

For questions, contact Iván D. López.

This educational program is provided as a service of SPE. The views and opinions expressed on this or any SPE educational program are those of the Speaker(s) and/or the persons appearing with the Speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc. (SPE) or its officials, employees or designees. To comment or to present an opposing or supporting opinion, please contact us at info@4SPE.org.

Refund Policy

Full refund 30 days prior to the event start date. Please contact customerrelations@4spe.org for assistance with registration.

Copyright & Permission to Use

SPE may take photographs and audio/video recordings during the conference, pre-conference meetings and receptions that may include attendees within sessions, networking areas, exhibition areas, and other areas associated with the conference both inside and outside of the venue. By registering for this event, all attendees are providing permission for SPE to use this material at its discretion on SPE's websites, marketing materials, and publications. SPE retains ownership of copyright to all photographs and audio/video recording obtained at this event and attendees may request copies of any material in which they are included.

Anti-Trust Statement

  1. No discussion among members, volunteers, or staff, which attempts to arrive at any agreement regarding prices, terms or conditions of sale, distribution, volume, territories, or customers;
  2. No activity or communication which might be construed as an attempt to prevent any person or business entity from gaining access to any market or customer for goods or services or any business entity from obtaining services or a supply of goods;
  3. No activity or communication which might be construed as an agreement to refrain from purchasing or using any materials, equipment, services or supplies of or from any supplier; or
  4. No other activity which violates anti-trust or applicable laws aimed at preventing unfair competition.
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