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.
Subject
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
The Price of Plastic: An Analysis of the Environmental and Economic Impacts and Social Perceptions of Single-Use Plastic Containers at Dalhousie University
Fast, Julia; Haughn, Jordan; Miller, Hannah; Jiang, ZongXu (2019-04)While recyclable, landfills house 22 to 43% of plastics (Gourmelon, 2015, p. 2). Plastic packaging comprises the majority of plastic waste (Brooks et al., 2018, p. 1). With rises in plastic production (Gourmelon, 2015, ... -
'SUP with Nova Scotia: Characterizing Nova Scotia's Single-Use Plastic Waste within the Canadian Federal Single-Use Plastic (SUP) Ban
Hines, Kali (2023-04-24)The use of single-use plastics (SUPs) has increased rapidly over the years, and the contribution of SUPs to global waste quantities has been rising steadily (Xanthos & Walker, 2017). In 2019 alone, Canada produced an ... -
Marine Microplastic and Nanoplastic Litter in Nova Scotia: Confronting the Rising Tides of Plastics in our Marine Waters, Coastlines and Organisms. [graduate project].
David, Ashley (2016)According to Moore (2008), "plastics are now one of the most common and persistent pollutants in ocean waters and beaches worldwide" (p. 131). Significant increases in plastic production is a considerable driver in the ...