The American Forest & Paper Association is calling for commercial paper and packaging recycling to be excluded from extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs, arguing that these materials already move through established, privately funded recycling systems.

Under the model described by AF&PA, businesses contract directly with recycling companies. The association says keeping these materials separate from household recycling reduces contamination and maintains more consistent quality, supporting their use in new paper and packaging products.

AF&PA argues that businesses using these arrangements already finance their recycling services. Including their packaging in EPR programs could therefore require them to contribute to residential systems from which they receive no collection services.

The association also contends that additional fees and compliance requirements could disrupt established recycling markets and ultimately increase consumer costs.

AF&PA Urges Commercial Recycling Exclusion from EPR