Governor Janet Mills has signed LD 1423 into law, enacting targeted updates to Maine’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for packaging
The legislation, officially titled “An Act To Support and Improve Municipal Recycling,” introduces refinements designed to better support municipal recycling systems while preserving effective practices already in place for materials like paper and paper packaging.
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) praised the bipartisan effort behind LD 1423, emphasizing the importance of a measured approach to EPR reform. Paper products are among the most successfully recycled materials in the U.S., with a 2023 recovery rate between 65% and 69%. The AF&PA attributes this success to decades of industry investment in recycling infrastructure and capacity.
LD 1423 aims to enhance recycling for materials with lower recovery rates without undermining efficient, existing systems. The law reflects a collaborative effort among lawmakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders to create an EPR framework that supports both environmental and economic goals.
AF&PA expressed its intent to continue working with Maine officials on the program’s implementation, ensuring it aligns with the state’s recycling goals while maintaining the strong performance of the paper recovery system.
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day.
