United States: Waste Management

Vermont's groundbreaking extended producer responsibility program for household hazardous products enters a critical phase as the state agency releases its draft implementation plan. With registration deadlines already in effect and new compliance requirements on the horizon, manufacturers of aerosols, cleaning products, motor oil containers, and similar consumer goods face significant operational and financial obligations. The draft plan outlines collection systems, municipal reimbursement formulas, and pr

A federal court has issued the first ruling on the constitutionality of state extended producer responsibility laws, upholding Oregon's Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act against industry challenges. The decision addresses critical questions about whether EPR programs violate the Commerce Clause and Due Process protections, with implications for similar legislation in California, Colorado, and other states. Companies subject to Oregon's EPR regulations must continue complying with registratio

On July 29, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted Alaska final authorization to administer its hazardous waste management program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Alaska is the 49th state authorized to administer most aspects of the federal RCRA hazardous waste program and the first state in more than 25 years to receive initial authorization.

The second day of the NAW v. Feldon bench trial examined how Oregon's Extended Producer Responsibility program affects interstate supply chains, with testimony focusing on producer identification challenges, packaging design requirements, fee calculation complexities, and regional distribution networks. Witnesses from wholesale distributors and industry representatives detailed the practical burdens of compliance, while Oregon argued many challenges stem from business decisions rather than statutory deficie

California's SB 54, known as the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, was signed into law on June 30, 2022, and became legally effective on January 1, 2023...

On June 29, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Draft Guidance Memorandum titled "Draft Guidance for Reducing Risk from Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid...

Three environmental groups have filed a lawsuit challenging California’s SB 54 plastic regulations, arguing that some sections do not meet the law’s requirements and contain loopholes that could undermine...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a report to Congress addressing best practices for battery collection, recycling, labeling and consumer education...

In life, only three things are certain: death, taxes and ever-changing administration of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). In the following pages, we provide an overview of actions taken under President Trump’s second administration since our last WOTUS update and describe what project proponents might expect in the coming months and years.