Exploring the Capacity of the Extended Producer Responsibility Principle to Incentivize the Collection and Recycling of Plastic Food Packaging Waste

Abstract

Plastic waste mismanagement and pollution have become mounting global concerns that are closely implicated in unsustainable production and consumption paradigms. This research reviews the ecological and socio-economic impacts of plastic waste mismanagement that are currently transboundary in nature and necessitate political interventions to mitigate the multifaceted dilemmas posed by high rates of plastic waste generation. This research examines the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle as one waste policy for packaging, wherein producers who introduce packaging into the marketplace become mandated to bear the financial and/or operational costs of waste management, incentivizing improved design. This research examines EPR programs for packaging waste in Canada and analyzes potential economic and environmental benefits of implementing such a program in Nova Scotia. This research additionally examines various available methods to achieve reuse-oriented packaging systems within the transition from a disposal-oriented to a reuse-centric economy, requiring collaborative efforts between governments, producers, and consumers.