DEP: Product Stewardship

Product Stewardship

{Images of battery, computer and thermostat}

Typically municipalities have borne the responsibility to pay for solid waste disposal and recycling. Under product stewardship, that cost is shifted to the manufacturer. Municipalities can save tax dollars while increasing recycling programs.

Definition of Product Stewardship
Examples of product stewardship programs in CT
Product Stewardship Institute (PSI)
Product Stewardship and Connecticut's Solid Waste Management Plan
The Connecticut Product Stewardship Council

Definition of Product Stewardship

According to the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI):

Product stewardship is a principle that directs all participants involved in the life cycle of a product to take shared responsibility for the impacts to human health and the natural environment that result from the production, use and end-of-life management of the product. The greater the ability of a party to influence the life cycle impacts of a product, the greater the degree of that party’s responsibility. The stakeholders typically include manufacturers, retailers, consumers, and government officials.

Examples of Product Stewardship Programs in CT

Electronics

In 2007, Connecticut passed a law which requires manufacturers of televisions, computers and monitors to finance the recycling of their products generated by households. Under this law, the DEP will approve recyclers to bill these manufacturers for the cost of transportation and recycling of these products.

The approved recyclers will collect the electronics from municipal transfer stations and other collection events and recycle them at their facility. Television manufacturers will finance the recycling based on their current market share. For example if a manufacturer has a 10% market share for televisions, they are responsible for 10% of the costs. Computer and monitor manufacturers will pay for the costs of recycling products they manufactured.

Rechargeable Batteries

The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) has operated a product stewardship program in Connecticut since 1995. Under this program, residents can bring rechargeable batteries to a number of participating retail outlets for recycling. The RBRC, which consists of manufacturers of batteries and related products, pays for the recycling these batteries. The RBRC will also recycle cell phones.

Thermostats

Thermostat recyclers formed a company called the Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC) which began a recycling program for mercury thermostats in 1997. Contractors can bring mercury thermostats to a participating wholesaler where they will be shipped to a recycler. The TRC picks up the cost. The program has been voluntary however a few states have recently passed laws making the program mandatory and establishing performance goals.

Paint

Learn more about how CT will be one of the early rollout states for the paint product stewardship program through the National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA).

The Product Stewardship Institute (PSI)

The Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) is the most prominent organization involved with product stewardship at the national level. PSI formed in 2000 in order to promote the development of product stewardship programs.

They have engaged stakeholders in a number of different initiatives including such waste streams as paint, electronics, carpet, tires, phonebooks, and pharmaceuticals. According to their website, PSI’s main focus is in three areas:

Policy Development Assistance – promotes model product stewardship policies, programs, and legislation; researches technical issues; and helps agencies, organizations, and companies develop viable solutions.
Coordination, Facilitation, and Mediation – brings key stakeholders together to reach negotiated agreements on specific products.
Outreach and Education - serves as a clearinghouse for information and as a network for product stewardship education, training, and development in the United States.

Connecticut is an active member of PSI.

Product Stewardship and Connecticut’s Solid Waste Management Plan

Product stewardship plays an important role in the State’s solid waste management plan. According to the plan adopted in 2006, "Solid waste management efforts in Connecticut will be guided by the principle of shared responsibility or "product stewardship". The plan goes on to say that since manufacturers play a central role in the life cycle of a product, they should have a greater financial responsibility for the end of life management.

The Connecticut Product Stewardship Council

Over the past few years, several states including Vermont, Colorado, California and New York have formed state product stewardship councils in order to promote product stewardship initiatives within the state.

In June 2009, state and local government representatives and other interested stakeholders, convened in Harford to discuss the possibility of forming a Product Stewardship Council in Connecticut. As a result of that meeting, stakeholders decided to form a council in Connecticut. The council will help to raise the profile of product stewardship in Connecticut. By being organized, Connecticut is in a position to take advantage of opportunities for pilot programs negotiated by PSI and manufacturers. Find more information about the Connecticut Product Stewardship Council.

Content updated November 2009.