Producer Responsibility

In the field of waste management, the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) incorporates all product related environmental costs, from the market price to the post-consumer phase. Under EPR legislation, producers of products are responsible for their recovery or disposal once they reach their end of life. In principle, such responsibility provides incentives to prevent waste at source, promotes innovative product designs as well as supports the attainment of recovery and recycling targets. Within the European Community, the concept of extended producer responsibility is considered a major instrument for the implementation of the Waste Hierarchy.