What do we need the UN’s legally binding instrument on plastic pollution to do?

2 billion or more people currently do not have access to waste management that are convenient or comprehensive. It is not surprise that plastic waste is finding it’s way into land, rivers, and oceans.

The passage explores the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) within waste management, questioning whether EPR should be a singular policy or encompass multiple approaches to achieve its objectives. It contemplates whether EPR, seen as a means to address various concerns, might actually require more than one policy instrument. It raises the question of whether these policies need to fall under the umbrella of EPR or if other strategies could be more effective.

The focus is on prioritizing actions in contexts where there’s currently inadequate management of plastic and other wastes. It debates whether countries in such situations should prioritize debates about eco-modulation of fees or instead concentrate on building financially sound waste management services. The passage offers an example of how eco-modulation of fees under EPR might not be the most suitable policy mechanism, proposing the use of environmental levies as an alternative means to enhance recyclability.

The central argument proposes a simpler focus: holding producers accountable for covering the complete costs of managing their products’ waste at the end of their life cycle. It suggests that there are various ways to approach this, not all of which need to align with the prevalent EPR schemes in Europe. The passage acknowledges the diverse perspectives on EPR among different stakeholders and doubts the feasibility of all UN member nations adopting a unified approach due to political and economic variations.

Furthermore, it suggests that if the primary emphasis is on cost recovery, other relevant aspects need not be confined to EPR. It advocates for defining the scope of products and packaging to which the cost recovery principle applies and outlining the breadth of costs to be covered, including litter management. Additionally, it highlights the importance of efficiently allocating funds and ensuring their proper utilization, potentially through international auditing mechanisms. The text also underscores the necessity of setting minimum service standards for waste collection to achieve high recycling rates, proposing that such matters need not be exclusively governed by laws on EPR but could also be addressed in waste or local government legislation. Ultimately, it stresses the critical need for producers to cover waste management costs to prevent further environmental harm caused by mismanaged plastics.