Extended Producer Responsibility Act
Section 1: Purpose and Scope
1.1 The purpose of this Act is to promote a circular economy, reduce waste, and ensure responsible management of materials throughout their lifecycle. 1.2 This Act applies to all corporations operating within the jurisdiction, regardless of size or industry.
Section 2: Definitions
2.1 “Corporation” means any legal entity engaged in commercial activities. 2.2 “Materials” include all products, packaging, and associated items placed on the market by a corporation.
Section 3: Take-back Obligation
3.1 Every corporation shall establish and maintain a system to accept and process any materials it has placed on the market, at the end of the product’s useful life. 3.2 This take-back system shall be provided at no additional cost to the consumer.
Section 4: Collection and Recycling Targets
4.1 Corporations must achieve the following minimum collection and recycling rates for their materials:
- Year 1-3: 50% collection, 30% recycling
- Year 4-6: 70% collection, 50% recycling
- Year 7 onwards: 90% collection, 70% recycling
Section 5: Reporting and Transparency
5.1 Corporations shall submit annual reports detailing:
- Quantities of materials placed on the market
- Quantities collected and recycled
- Methods of recycling or disposal
5.2 These reports shall be made publicly available.
Section 6: Eco-design Requirements
6.1 Corporations shall design their products and packaging to minimize waste and facilitate recycling.
Section 7: Consumer Information
7.1 Corporations must clearly inform consumers about the take-back options for their materials.
Section 8: Enforcement and Penalties
8.1 Failure to comply with this Act may result in fines of up to 2% of the corporation’s annual global turnover. 8.2 Repeated violations may lead to suspension of business licenses.
Section 9: Implementation
9.1 This Act shall come into force 12 months after its enactment, allowing corporations time to establish necessary systems and processes. This draft law draws inspiration from Germany’s Packaging Act (VerpackG) and Circular Economy Act (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz)
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. It extends the principle of producer responsibility beyond just packaging to all materials a corporation puts into the market. The law aims to create a more sustainable, circular economy by making corporations responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products
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. The proposed law includes specific collection and recycling targets, reporting requirements, and penalties for non-compliance, similar to existing EPR laws
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. It also emphasizes eco-design and consumer information, which are crucial elements in creating a successful circular economy system
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