In 2024, Minnesota passed a new law called the Packaging Waste & Cost Reduction Act. This makes Minnesota only the fifth state in the U.S. to have a special law for packaging and paper products. The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, which was created by the law, aims to make companies that manufacture packaging more responsible for the lifecycle of those products. For example, EPR can look like reducing the amount and toxicity of packaging and making packaging more refillable, reusable, recyclable, and compostable. The desired outcome of EPR is to reduce harm to people’s health and to keep our Minnesota environment and landscape healthier, too.
The packaging law also sets up a group called the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Advisory Board. The EPR Advisory Board will help the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and other organizations make sure the law and EPR program are working well and meeting their goals. CURE advocated for this legislation and has been a consistent voice ensuring that rural opportunities and concerns are core to zero waste progress. Because of CURE’s commitment to packaging and waste issues, we are excited to share that CURE’s Maggie Schuppert was recently named to serve on the EPR Advisory Board.
“Last year, we and our allies in the Minnesota Zero Waste Coalition celebrated the passage of the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging bill, moving Minnesota that much closer to tackling the waste crisis, improving recycling options for our rural and urban communities, and making sure producers of packaging are accountable for the waste they produce. But we at CURE know that good policy requires strong implementation and oversight. So I’m excited to work with PCA and the other members of the Advisory Committee to make sure that happens.” – Maggie Schuppert, CURE
Maggie, who lives and works in rural Ely, leads CURE’s work around waste. She brings years of advocating for communities impacted by large-scale energy and infrastructure projects, both globally and here in Minnesota, in addition to her experiences with the everyday realities and complexities of dealing with waste when you live rurally.
Learn more about the Minnesota Zero Waste Coalition and the Extended Producer Responsibility Advisory Board.
