Ocean Conservancy Celebrates Federal Court Upholding Oregon’s Producer Responsibility for Plastics Law

A federal judge ruled that Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act – an extended producer responsibility (EPR) law applied to packaging and plastics – is constitutional. EPR laws are designed to reduce plastic pollution and improve recycling by holding plastic producers accountable for the waste they create, incentivizing them to design products to be more recyclable and to use less plastic. In response to this decision, Dr. Anja Brandon, an Oregon resident and Ocean Conservancy’s Director of Plastics Policy, issued the following statement:

“Producer responsibility laws are a critical piece of the puzzle in preventing plastic from becoming pollution in the first place. These laws are a proven model used nationwide for decades on everything from batteries to paint. Applying them to packaging – as this Oregon law does – is the next logical step and will prevent families and small businesses from footing the bill for a waste crisis they didn’t create.

“This decision affirms that states have every right to innovate to solve the plastic pollution crisis. It is not only a victory in the fight to end plastic pollution, but a victory for our ocean and a great day to be an Oregonian. As someone who has dedicated my life to fighting plastic pollution and who calls Oregon home, myself, I will be celebrating!”

You can find more information on EPR in Ocean Conservancy’s EPR toolkit HERE.

ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY

For more than 50 years, Ocean Conservancy has delivered effective, evidence-based solutions for the ocean and all who depend on it. Today, we continue to unite science, people and policy to protect our ocean from the greatest challenges it faces: climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss. We are a 501(C)3 headquartered in Washington, D.C. that inspires a worldwide network of partners, advocates and supporters through our comprehensive and clear-eyed approach to ocean conservation. Together, we are securing a healthy ocean and a thriving planet, forever and for everyone. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on LinkedIn,Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky or Instagram.