Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) would have manufacturers bear responsibility for products and packaging at the end of life. In the product and packaging design phase, this would encourage responsible waste reduction and product recyclability since they would have to manage less discarded materials.
This essentially takes the responsibility away from individuals and governments to waste less and recycle, moving much of the burden to manufacturers. Society would produce less waste, saving energy, reducing the negative impacts of producing energy, and reducing the need for raw natural resources. The market for recycled materials would be boosted.
Is this feasible, as it is in Europe (DSD, WEEE and ROHS are examples)? Would there be increased product costs that discourage consumption, and/or would there be reduced overall economic and environmental costs to society (since the taxes society pays would bear less of the burden of managing the discard of materials). when a manufacturers products would otherwise be discarded? Would jobs be produced? Is EPR a good idea for the economy AND the environment? Why?