Infinite circularity: GPI calls for stronger glass legislation in Colorado EPR

07 Jun 2022 --- US trade association The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI), which represents glass bottle manufacturing plants and glass recycling facilities throughout the country, is continuing a struggle to improve recently mandated extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation in Colorado.

In May, Colorado became the third US state to enact EPR for packaging, following Oregon and Maine, but the first to do so without already having a beverage container deposit program. Without a deposit return scheme (DRS) for beverage packaging, the new EPR in Colorado could – if unaddressed – put certain industry players in an unfair position. 

However, GPI President, Scott DeFife, says that improved EPR stipulations could also boost the state’s material recovery rates. 

“Glass is an infinitely recyclable and [environmentally] sustainable packaging material that can play an important role in a circular economy, and should be the kind of material packaging option that thrives in Colorado, where glass is made, filled, and recycled into new bottles and jars.” 

GPI is calling for improved EPR stipulations for glass collection and recycling.“The association and its members are cautiously optimistic that, if properly constructed in coming years, this new law will lead to significantly better glass recycling and recovery in the state and expanded reuse and refill options,” says DeFife.  

Glass ceiling 
Despite the infinite recycling possibilities glass presents for packaging, industry players often see it as undervalued and underused. Plastic carries a far lower carbon footprint due to the energy associated with transport and production, but glass could theoretically be kept in a circular economy forever. 

GPI, like many other glass packaging associations, wants this characteristic to be fully recognized and taken advantage of. GPI has been participating in a year-long stakeholder process to improve Colorado’s EPR legislation, HB22-1355, to ensure that glass, its supply chain and customer markets were treated in a fair manner under the recently signed bill.

While each of the three EPR states in the US has constructed a slightly different system, the Colorado program has the opportunity to demonstrate a path for improved and innovative recovery in States that do not already have a robust recycling infrastructure, says GPI. 

“GPI will continue its engagement with all stakeholders to make certain that glass and its customers are treated in an equitable manner and that companies tasked with future recycling and recovery systems make much-needed infrastructure investments, recognizing the value of quality recycled glass for the Colorado and nearby manufacturing end-markets industries that rely on it daily in the production of new bottles and jars.”

US EPR spreading 
Last month, the US State of New York introduced two new bills to combat over-packaging, poor recycling rates and litter issues, including an EPR program requiring companies such as McDonald’s and Amazon to pay for the cost of packaging disposal and recycling. 

The EPR bill incentivizes companies to gradually reduce their packaging by 50% over ten years by eliminating packaging or switching to reuse and refill systems. The bill would also eliminate known toxic substances from packaging, including PFAS.

Judith Enck, president of the advocacy group Beyond Plastics, described the EPR bill as “the strongest packaging reduction bill in the nation. Adopting it would put New York on the map as a global leader in addressing the plastic pollution crisis.”

By Louis Gore-Langton