Extended Producer Responsibility: A System for a Circular Economy

Case in Brief

Plastic waste is projected to triple by 2060, threatening the health of our ecosystems, economies, and communities worldwide. To incentivize recycling and reduce the reliance on single-use plastics that commonly leak into the environment, countries are turning to new approaches, like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. Through EPR, companies that produce and sell plastic products or use plastic packaging become responsible for funding and managing the collection, recycling, and safe disposal of the plastic waste. Implementing a successful EPR system requires building trust—through the creation of transparent and accountable systems—and regularly engaging with vested stakeholders to ensure the system reflects the diverse viewpoints on plastic waste management. In Sri Lanka, USAID Clean Cities, Blue Ocean—the Agency’s flagship program under the Save our Seas Initiative—partnered with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce to pilot a voluntary EPR scheme and draw lessons that can be applied to a future nationwide mandatory collection and reporting system.