[GRRN] Fw: WI Extended Producer Responsibility Workshop

Bill Sheehan (zerowaste@grrn.org)
Tue, 7 Sep 1999 20:17:08 -0400


----- Original Message -----
From: Alex McPherson <alex@glu.org>
To: Bill Sheehan <zerowaste@grrn.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 1999 2:27 PM
Subject: Re: Extended Producer Responsibility Workshop

International Joint Commission 1999 Great Lakes Water Quality Forum
Extended Producer Responsibility Workshop
Saturday, September 25, 1:30 to 5:30 PM
Midwest Express Center
4th and Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
All are welcome
Registration: www.ijc.org
There is no fee for the EPR workshop

Great Lakes United is pleased to invite you to our very important upcoming
September 25th workshop on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) at the
International Joint Commission 1999 Great Lakes Water Quality Forum. The
workshop will feature top industry and government speakers followed by an
interactive audience question and answer session. Attending this forum
will provide GLU members with an opportunity to gain further insight on the
strategic aspects of implementing EPR in the Great Lakes Basin. Following
the lead of the European Union, some US states such as Minnesota and New
Jersey have implemented "take back" policies.

Extended Producer Responsibility

Extended Producer Responsibility is the concept that producers are
responsible for their products at the 'end of life'. This is best attained
by accepting financial and/or physical responsibility for take-back after
the consumer has finished with the product. EPR is a strategy to promote
cleaner product design through the phase out of hazardous materials and the
reduction of waste generation. By closing the material loop and bringing
the materials back to the producer, the manufacturer is more likely to
eliminate materials that cause environmental and financial problems in
recycling and disposal. EPR has far reaching benefits:

· Cleaner product design is advantageous to workers in the production
process and the recycling industry as it reduces exposure to hazardous
materials;
· Waste reduction can be more successfully achieved by designing
products for durability and repair and by designing for recyclability so
that some materials - such as plastics - can be re-used in new product
manufacture; and
· Finally EPR benefits local authorities because it shifts the cost
of waste management back to the producer. Instead of taxpayers paying the
cost of product waste management, the costs are absorbed by the producer.

Europe has taken the lead in EPR policy. Many countries such as the
Netherlands,
Sweden, Germany and Denmark are adopting, or have already
adopted, producer responsibility for vehicles and electronic products. To
harmonize these different countries' initiatives the European Union is
finalizing two mandatory pieces of legislation on Extended Producer
Responsibility for End of Life Vehicles (ELV) and Waste from Electronic and
Electrical Equipment (WEEE).

Workshop Speakers

1. "A Summary of the European Union's Two Directives on Take-back"Beverley
Thorpe, Clean Production Action. Montreal, Canada.

2. "European Policy and Managing Product Ecodesign"Dr.Andrew Baynes MSc,
Environmental Center Europe, Sony International (Europe) GmbH. Stuttgart,
Germany.

3. "Product Policy: Practical Environmental Experiences in the USA"Dr.
Mark Small, Corporate Environmental Affairs, Sony Electronics Inc. San
Diego, USA.

4. "Take-back and Cleaner Design in the Auto Industry"Dr V Kok, Manager
Recycling Projects. Auto Recycling Nederland BV. Amsterdam, NL
(invited)

5. "Corporate Benefits of Cleaner Product Design and Recycling"Dr.
Bertolucci, Head of Corporate Research, Interface Inc. Atlanta, USA.

6. "Producer Responsibility Legislative Initiatives in the USA"Garth
Hickle, Policy Analyst, Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance.

Great Lakes United believes that EPR will help the Great Lakes Basin phase
out hazardous materials and meet the virtual elimination mandate set in the
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Clean production activists are in a
great position to advance clean technology in the Basin and the United
States by providing grassroots support for implementation of EPR
policies. We look forward to seeing you there. If you have any questions,
please do not hesitate to contact Alexandra McPherson, Clean Production
Coordinator at alex@glu.org or 716-886-0142

Alexandra McPherson
Great Lakes United
Clean Production Coordinator
BSC-Cassety Hall
1300 Elmwood Ave.
Buffalo, New York
P (716) 886-0142
F (716) 886-0303
alex@glu.org