This table provides a comparison of EPR frameworks in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and the EU. It highlights the differences in their legislative timelines and approaches, and methods of enforcement. This global perspective is crucial for understanding the context of the evolving EPR landscape in the U.S.

Criteria	EU	UK	Switzerland	Canada	U.S.
Year of Introduction of EPR as a law or policy	1994, Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive1	1997, Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations2	1983, Federal Act on the Protection of the  Environment3	1970, Beverage Container Recycling Programs4	1991, State policies and programs5
Key Legislations	Directive 94/62/EC: Packaging and Packaging Waste  Directive 2000/53/EC: End-of-life vehicles  Directive 2012/19/EC: Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)  Directive 2006/66: Batteries and accumulators6	Producer Responsibility Obligations7  Environmental Act 2021  Collection and Packaging Reforms8 Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations9	2005 Ordinance on the Avoidance and Disposal of Waste  2000 Ordinance on Movements of Waste  2000 Ordinance on Beverage Containers 2021 Ordinance on the Return, Take-Back and Disposal of Electrical and Electronic Equipment 2001 Ordinance on the prepaid disposal contribution for glass beverage containers 2011 Ordinance on the prepaid disposal fee for batteries  2011 Ordinance on animal by-products  2016 Ordinance on the Avoidance and Disposal of Waste  2024 Initiative 20.433: Developing the circular economy  2025 Packaging Ordinance (VerpV)10 On June 25, 2025, the Swiss Federal Council opened the public consultation for the VerpV, running until October 16, 2025. The ordinance is set to take effect gradually beginning January 1, 2027, allowing businesses time to prepare for compliance.	1970 Beverage Container Recycling Programs  1999 Canadian Environmental Protection Act11  2009 Canada-wide Action Plan for Extended Producer Responsibility12 2019 and 2020 Canada-wide Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste: Phase 1 and 2 13	State-level Legislations   Maine 2021 Stewardship Program for Packaging14 California 2022 Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act15 Maryland 2025 Producer Responsibility Plans16  Washington 2024 Recycling Reform Act17   Colorado 2022 Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act18  Oregon 2021 Plastic Pollution and Modernization Act19 Minnesota 2024 Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act20
Key Enforcement Agencies	European Commission  Member State authorities  Producer Responsibility Organizations	The Environment Agency (EA) in England  Natural Resources Wales (NRW)  Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA)  Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)21	Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU)22	Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment  Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)  Ontario Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA)  Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) Recyc-Quebec  Divert Nova Scotia  Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba  Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment New Brunswick Recycle NB  Manitoba Department of Environment and Climate Change  British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy  Yukon Ministry of the Environment23	Maine Department of Environmental Protection24   California Department of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery25  Maryland Department of the Environment26 Washington Department of Ecology27   Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment28  Oregon Department of Environmental Quality29 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency30
Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs)	Some examples include: Adelphe, Batribox, CITEO, Cyclevia, EcoDDS, ECOPAE, Léko, Pyréo, Der Grüne Punkt GmbH, Landbell AG, Interseroh Dienstleistungs GmbH, Reclay Systems, GmBH BellandVision GmbH, Zentek GmbH & Co., KG, Veolia Umweltservice Dual GmbH, Noventitz Dual GmbH, PreZero Dual GmbH, Verpact, Nove Verde, Sociedade Ponto Verde (SPV) Ecoembes, Ecovidrio), Aspapel, Procircular, Consorzio Nazionale Imballagg or CONAI31	PackUK32	No mandatory compliance yet, but sectors have set up their own recycling organizations.   PET Recycling Switzerland for disposable drinks bottles  IGORA & Ferro Recycling for aluminum and sheet steel  VetroSwiss for used glass  Swiss Recycling as an umbrella organization33	Circular Materials, Product Care Recycling, Call2Recycle,34 EnvironFocus Inc., Landbell Canada, Ryse Solutions Ontario Inc.,35  Eco-enterprises Quebec, The Quebec Association for the Recovery of Beverage Containers, RecycleBC, Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba36	Circular Action Alliance (CAA) in Oregon, California, Colorado, Minnesota, and Maine37
Producer Obligations	Register with national authorities or PROs, submit product data, and pay applicable fees.  Cover costs of collection, recycling, and disposal through compliance schemes or PRO fees.   Partner with PROs or waste management companies to meet obligations.  Incorporate sustainable design to reduce impacts and support circular economy goals.38	Register annually with the relevant authority or compliance scheme.  Collect and submit detailed packaging data through the online service by required deadlines.  Pay waste management fees that support local authority services.  Purchase PRNs or PERNs to meet recycling and recovery obligations.  Label packaging clearly to inform consumers about recyclability.39	Design packaging to be recyclable and resource-efficient.  Take back packaging placed on the market and ensure proper recycling or disposal.  Contribute financially to waste management, such as through advance disposal fees.  Meet reporting and labeling requirements, especially for beverage packaging.40	Register with the provincial authority and, if required, a PRO that oversees collection and recycling.  Report the type and volume of packaging and printed paper placed on the market.  Pay fees to the PRO, typically based on material volume and environmental impact.  Meet recycling and reduction targets, often managed through PROs.  Contribute to or participate in consumer education campaigns on proper recycling practices.41	Register with the state’s PRO or pursue an individual compliance plan.  Fund the collection, sorting, and processing of products through required fees.  Report the types and amounts of covered materials placed on the market.  Design products with reduced material use, higher recycled content, and improved recyclability.  Meet recycling, reduction, and reuse targets established by state legislation.42

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