Gary Talks Trash

A Blog featuring EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) for packaging information.

EPR Packaging Specialist, EPR Legislative Advocate/Spokesman and Food Packaging Specialist.

Volunteer Outreach Director - Reimagine Packaging Tennessee, the coalition working to pass the Tennessee Waste Reduction & Recycling Act, EPR for Packaging Legislation. Tennessee is ranked 48th in the US for recycling, landfills 900,000 tons of Packaging Waste every year and is one of the few states with pending legislation.

I’m looking forward to “talking trash” & EPR with you.

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Gary Cohen is a 40+ year veteran of the packaging industry and volunteer Outreach Director for Reimagine Packaging Tennessee, the coalition working to pass EPR for packaging legislation in Tennessee.

I have proven expertise in corrugated carton design, plastic food packaging, modified atmosphere packaging, plastics recycling, circular packaging, and recycling market development. I provide companies with all types of packaging that unfortunately often ends up in landfills. I also understand the value that plastic packaging provides to keep our foods safe and fresh from processor to consumer. I’m passionate about finding solutions that takes this important packaging, diverts it from landfills and is made into other products. This is the definition of a circular economy. EPR is the best solution to the packaging waste issue I have seen in 40 years. This is why I’m an advocate and spokesman for EPR legislation and here to help you.

How an EPR Packaging Specialist can help you..

EPR legislation is complex and varies by state. Businesses will experience confusion and concern regarding obligation and packaging fees. Working with a knowledgeable and hands on EPR packaging specialist can prepare your company for this legislation.

The right EPR Packaging Specialist and packaging partner can help producers understand the legislation, requirements and provide solutions to help keep EPR fees cost-neutral, to minimize the operational and financial impact of EPR legislation. There are several ways that a packaging specialist can help:

Optimize packaging for sustainability: EPR Packaging specialists and their team of packaging engineers and designers can audit existing packaging to recommend and optimize packaging to reduce the amount of material used and reduce cost, incorporate recycled or recyclable materials, and ensure packaging is compliant with EPR regulations.

Facilitate packaging lifecycle analysis: Evaluate the environmental impact of packaging from sourcing to disposal, to identify areas, and provide solutions for improvement.

Help you stay updated on legislation: Regulations can vary by region and can change over time. An EPR Packaging Specialist can help keep your company track of relevant EPR legislation, ensuring manufacturers remain compliant.

Cost-effective solutions: While sustainability is a primary goal, cost-effectiveness is crucial for any business. A specialist can balance both aspects, finding solutions that minimize environmental impact without significantly raising costs.

Coordinate with suppliers: Work with sustainable packaging material suppliers to ensure they’re aligned with EPR and that packaging products meet their stated sustainability claims.

12% of Metro Nashville and Davidson county waste is recycled.*

Nationally, the average amount of solid waste recycled is 26%.*

Davidson County Solid Waste Board states the major obstacles to expand recycling services include education, citizen apathy, and lack of support. *

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) 101

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is the preferred policy approach for improving recycling system outcomes for packaging. EPR legislation transfers the cost of recycling from households onto the companies that are responsible for placing the products and packaging on the market.

EPR establishes a nonprofit PRO or Producer Responsibility Organization, whose members are representatives of the producers or brand owners. The PRO collects the fees on all packaging coming into the state and develops a plan for meeting the goal determined through the EPR policy or by the responsible state agency (often a department of health, environment or natural resources).

Once the state agency has approved the PRO’s plan, the PRO uses the collected funds to implement the plan by building new and funding existing recycling infrastructure and programming. The state agency has ultimate oversight of the PRO and the PRO plan.

In many jurisdictions with EPR programs, the PRO also consults with and/or has their work reviewed by a state appointed Advisory Board consisting of representatives from industry, government, haulers, recyclers, packaging, solid waste, & NGO’s.

EPR is used widely throughout Europe and Canada and is growing in the US with 4 states passing EPR legislation since 2021. 13 more states are reviewing draft legislation that will hopefully pass. EPR and its PRO is the system to solve our packaging solid waste issue. For more information read my blog about it.

Dozens of major retailers including Wal-Mart are requiring that plastic packaging must contain no less than 25% post-consumer (recycled) materials by 2025. It has been reported that to meet the needs necessary to fulfill the demands of the packaging industry 150 new recycled resin processing plants are essential. EPR legislation is vital to improving recycling rates to provide the post consumer packaging needed to meet these retailers sustainable packaging goals

By getting engaged in where your local trash goes, you can make a difference.

Let’s talk trash & how EPR is our answer to packaging solid waste

*Davidson County Solid Waste Board- 2016 Solid Waste Breakdown

**Davidson County Solid Waste Board- Annual Report 2021