What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)?

The main point of EPR is that it sees the producer as having a role beyond the point of sale or warranty. He or she can do this by designing products that produce less waste, use fewer resources, and contain more recycled and less toxic components.

EPR schemes, either voluntary or mandatory, have already been implemented in many other countries and territories, including Europe, the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and also Hong Kong.

Here are some examples involving practices, both local and overseas that better illustrate EPR.

Take-back and recovery of used products or packaging

• For years, consumers in Hong Kong have been enjoying a refund of 50 cents for every glass bottle, soft drink bottle or fresh milk container they return to the producers.
• The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) of Hong Kong has implemented the Rechargeable Batteries Recycling Programme with funding and collection points provided by producers to encourage the collection of their used rechargeable batteries.
• In the USA, a mandatory 'deposit-refund' system for beverage containers is running in 11 states. Along the supply chain, a deposit is added to beverage containers and consumers returning the used containers back to the manufacturers enjoy a refund.
• The EU's Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) requires producers, importers and distributors to arrange take-back and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment. The Directive also requires product components to be more readily disassembled, reused and recycled. Similar legislations are also being developed in other jurisdictions, such as China, Taiwan and Korea.

Reduce unnecessary packaging

• In Hong Kong, over the last three years, the number of packaging components in moon cake boxes has decreased by more than 20%.
• In Taiwan, regulation was set out to limit the packaging of foodstuffs and bakery products to no more than 5 layers.

Reduce toxic materials in the product

• The EU's Directive on Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) restricts the use of toxic heavy metals and brominated flame-retardants in most electrical and electronic equipment. Similar legislations are also being developed in other jurisdictions, such as China, Taiwan and Korea.

New developments in Hong Kong

• In late 2005, the Government issued "A policy framework for the management of municipal solid waste" for the next 10 years. The policy framework proposed to introduce producer responsibility schemes (PRSs) that hold the manufacturers, importers, retailers and consumers responsible for what they produce and consume. The Government aims to introduce the Product Eco-responsibility Bill to the Legislative Council in 2006 to provide a legal framework for PRSs and the types of products to be regulated are Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE), plastic shopping bags, packaging materials, beverage containers, etc.