TWRRA: A Solution
The Problem
In 1976, only forty seven years ago, Coca Cola introduced the single-use, disposable plastic beverage bottle. Since then, we have seen the explosion of single-use, disposable containers and packaging for food and consumer products, e.g., yogurt containers and clam shells. And over the past nearly half century, we created the largest waste problem the world has ever seen. Single-use, disposable packaging waste is huge and it has virtually nowhere to go but into landfills, rivers, and streets.
Disposal costs for this packaging falls almost entirely upon municipalities, cities and ultimately, we the taxpayers. The consumer may enjoy the convenience of these disposable, single-use containers and packaging. However, we have little say on its design, including the materials used, the amount or size of the containers and packaging, and most importantly how to ensure the proper disposal without endangering our environment.
Over the past 46 years, governments have attempted to address this disposal problem through recycling programs. These recycling programs mostly fail to be monetarily sustainable. The low cost paid for the recycled materials cannot compensate for the costs of collecting, sorting, transporting, and reprocessing the materials. As a result much of this reusable packaging ends up in our landfills, rivers and streets. And we taxpayers foot the additional monetary and environmental costs.
The saying is if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Yet, the disposal of single-use packaging waste is simply broken, and we must fix it! Here in Tennessee, less than 15% of this packaging waste is recycled, with the bulk ending up in landfills and as litter. Our attempts at recycling can frustrate residents who may become apathetic. But there are ways forward.
Solving the Problem
How do we move forward? What is a first step in the “fix”? Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR is the goal of the TN Waste Reduction & Recycling Act. EPR places disposal costs upstream with the packaging’s producer and/or brand owners. EPR removes consumers and taxpayers as solely responsible for disposal and includes the producers as well. We are all in this together, and we all must be part of the solution. EPR encourages producers to redesign their packaging by requiring varying added costs dependent upon the packaging’s size, materials, recyclability and reusability. EPR helps provide municipalities with funding to support recycling and reuse.